Iran will not be able to resist the national liberation movements of non-Iranian peoples for a long time

On May 7, the constituent assembly of the National Statehood Council of South Azerbaijan (NSC SA) was held. The Central Council (CC) of the organization consisting of 15 people was elected at the meeting. The CC is the highest governing body of the organization in the period between congresses. The management of the organization will be elected at the next meeting of the CC.

What are the goals and objectives of the NSC of South Azerbaijan?

A member of the NSC SA, Chingiz Goyturk answered the questions from ASTNA.

* * *

Question: Who was present at the founding meeting of the NSC SA and what decisions were taken?

Answer: As an initiative group, we have set ourselves the goal of creating parallel organizations of the NSC SA both in the country and abroad. For this purpose, on May 7, 2023, the constituent assembly of the NSC of the South Caucasus was held abroad with the participation of 48 representatives of the organization and our national political figures from around the world. As an initiative group, during the preparation for the constituent assembly, we shared our principles of action, consisting of 8 articles, with all representatives of the organization and our national figures and learned their attitude to joint activities. Of course, there were those who had not yet taken part in this, but we managed to gather a serious majority around our principles.

Question: What are the goals of the NSC SA?

Answer: Along with the geopolitical processes taking place in the region where our homeland Azerbaijan is located, the escalating national, social, and political processes in the country called Iran have once again demonstrated the importance and decisive role of the national movement initiated by the Azerbaijani Turks living in Southern Azerbaijan for the restoration of their national statehood.

Persian chauvinism, considering the commitment of the national movement to the Azerbaijani-centric national statehood as a serious obstacle to its imperialist policy, in order to direct the potential of our movement to pan-Iranism, distract from its goals, as well as damage the national-political idea of the National Movement, promoting opportunism among Azerbaijani institutions and organizations, trying to set false goals for the movement, substitute national slogans.

Under such conditions it becomes necessary to represent the National Movement of South Azerbaijan as a national structure, organization and individuals committed to the Azerbaijani-centrist national statehood, showing an independent will to restore our national statehood, striving to form a national force in this direction. Based on this need, a number of national structures, organizations and individuals, guided by many principles, decided to create the  NSC of the SA (hereinafter NSC).

1. The NSC SA is based on the national-political idea and rich experience of the statehood of the National Movement of South Azerbaijan, the fundamental principles of the all-Turkic national ideology and acts in the direction of building our national statehood under the motto - "Freedom, justice, national government!".

2. The NSC adheres to the principle of Azerbaijanism, considers Azerbaijan its homeland and considers territorial integrity inviolable.

The NSC wants to realize the goals and ideals for which it is fighting on the historical national territory of Azerbaijan, along with the remnants (regions – Ed.) of Ardabil, East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan, Zanjan, Hamadan and Qazvin of South Azerbaijan, as well as on other historical, national territories of Azerbaijan divided into other settlements as a result of administrative and geographical changes that occurred in different periods.

3. The NSC believes in the need for independent decision-making by the National Movement (NM) of South Azerbaijan, is working on national solidarity and the formation of a unified national force.

4. The NSC officially recognizes the equality of rights of women and men, opposes any reason justifying the restriction of women's rights and freedoms and considers the struggle in this direction as an integral component of the struggle for national independence.

5. The NSC is ready to discuss and cooperate with all forces that officially recognize the NM of South Azerbaijan, respect the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and support national statehood as a goal. Negotiations and discussions with any political organization, with the exception of terrorist groups, will be conducted on the basis of NSC principles and joint decisions.

6. The NSC prefers civilized, cultural struggle, considers it acceptable to use all legal means of self-defense.

7. The NSC respects ethnic, religious and other rights, fights for the creation of an equal civil society.

8. The NSC rejects Iran and pan-Iranism under whatever name or flair it hides, fights for the creation of a modern, democratic, secular Southern Azerbaijani state.

Question: Why is the decision to create the NSC SA made right now? The adoption of such a decision during the tense Azerbaijani-Iranian relations raises many questions. Do you receive any support from the Azerbaijani government?

Answer: The idea of organizing joint activities of national forces in the NM, which is underway in Southern Azerbaijan, was put forward by a group of leaders of organizations and individuals back in 2019. After many years of theoretical research and discussions, in the process of maturing thought and convergence of positions, the goal and thought of the national state came to the fore. This goal was fully confirmed by the slogan "Freedom, justice, national government!" voiced by the members of the National Assembly in the south of Azerbaijan.

Since mid-2022, we have organized joint meetings of well-known national activists and representatives of organizations in the south and abroad. In particular, anticipating the strengthening of political processes in Iran, we came to the conclusion that it is necessary to create a unified national organization. Thus, it was decided to create a NSC organization that will carry out coordinated activities in the South and abroad.

In other words, the NSC was created in the process of developing our NM at a time when the need for a unified, strong national organization came to the fore, and this has nothing to do with the aggravation, intensification of tension in Azerbaijani-Iranian relations. In fact, the Azerbaijani state is quite capable of responding to Iran's aggression, and it has demonstrated this to the world by showing steadfastness in response to Iran's threats that exceed all reasonable boundaries. But I must proudly state that our national movement, which continues in the South, is unconditionally and unselfishly always close to the Azerbaijani state, and this will continue in the future. At the same time, I want to emphasize that the attention and support given to our national movement in the South by our northern compatriots is not something new, and this adds strength to us.

Question: Does the international community, any countries, the West support you?

Answer: We are part of a globalizing world, and the Iranian terrorist State is one of its most serious problems. Without taking into account the goals and aspirations of the Azerbaijani NM, this problem cannot find its cardinal solution. Based on this reality, one of the main goals and activities of the NSC community, international structures to the goals and objectives of the Azerbaijani NM. I am sure that thanks to the high potential and determination of our organizations and personalities represented in the NSC, we will honorably fulfill this important task.

Question: Recently, members of the Israeli Parliament appealed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a request to keep the issue of SA on the agenda. Has this step affected the NSC?

Answer: Putting the topic of the SA on the agenda of 32 representatives of the Israeli parliament is a manifestation of the desire of the progressive world to get rid of the myth of a single Iranian nation and the taboo on its territorial integrity. Now the progressive world knows that there is not one nation in Iran, but different nations, each of these nations has its own history, culture, language, worldview and vision of the future. That is, the project of creating a unified Iranian nation based on Persian identity from communities living in this geography has already failed, and the letter from representatives of the Israeli parliament is a clear manifestation of this collapse and from this point of view deserves approval. However, we should not forget that the  NSC is an organization born out of the development of Azerbaijan's NM and determined to realize the goals of the NM.

Question: The NSC SA was created in emigration. What other steps do you plan to take in emigration?

Answer: The Azerbaijani NM is a process and consistently continues its formation. There is no doubt that the NSC will fulfill its responsibilities to prepare the necessary conditions for the creation of a South Azerbaijani state and parliament in exile.

Question: There have been several attempts to achieve the independence of the South Caucasus in history. There were big movements like Sattarkhan and Pishevari Movements. However, these attempts were unsuccessful. Ultimately, the SA is still not independent. Will Iran and its supporters allow the independence of the South Caucasus?

Answer: The movements you have listed are very important stages in our process of becoming a nation and NM, and the modern Azerbaijani NM is a logical continuation and heir to the rich experience of these Movements. I believe that in comparison with the times of the movements of Sattarkhan, Sh.M. Hiyabani and Pishevari, the modern Movement is developing in extremely favorable conditions. I don't think that during the decline of empires, the Iranian chauvinist state has enough supporters to continue its imperialist existence. One of its few supporters, Russia, is deprived of opportunities to fight in Ukraine and provide assistance to the Persian state. And the long-term resistance of the Persians to the national liberation movements of non-Iranian peoples, who make up 70% of the population of Iran, is impossible.

Question: Are you aware of the dangers that lie in wait for you on this path? What do you oppose to these risks?

Answer: Obviously, each of us, having embarked on this path, having devoted his life to the Azerbaijani NM, assessed the risks and dangers. It is impossible to ignore risks and dangers when linking your fate with such a responsible mission as the NSC. But we can't let fear guide us. In this regard, the fight against the fear of risks and danger will also be part of our mission.