The Karabakh and not Armenian-Azerbaijani relations are on the agenda

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-According to a joint statement signed by Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia, a Russian peacekeeping contingent is deployed in Nagorno-Karabakh. In general, are the  peacekeepers needed in Karabakh? Why just Russian peacekeepers?

- The agreed statement provides for the deployment of peacekeeping forces, and we can already say that Russian peacekeepers have arrived in Karabakh. Meetings with the country's leadership are being held in Armenia. Peacekeepers are deployed to reduce tensions between the parties that create armed confrontation during any conflict. If the armed confrontation is terminated forcibly or the parties come to an agreement, then the process is necessarily monitored by the neutral armed forces so that a confrontation does not occur, and the agreement is respected. The deployment of Russian peacekeeping forces, although expected, nevertheless, their arrival in the region caused concerns.

There were no plans for the peaceful deployment of another state or political bloc in the region except Russia. Even the call of US President Donald Trump for the peaceful deployment of the alleged Scandinavian countries here seemed frivolous. The members of the OSCE Minsk Group were not interested in the deployment of peacekeeping forces. Therefore, Russia took advantage of this gap and seized the initiative. Now the French government is making a statement and complaining that Russia has taken a sole decision on the matter. Although the OSCE Minsk Group did not exert serious pressure on the parties to achieve peace.

- Will the joint residence of Armenians and Azerbaijanis in Nagorno-Karabakh be possible? The President often talks about this. This is also highlighted in the joint statement. From the written on social networks, we understand that neither Armenians nor Azerbaijanis want this. What to do in this case, considering that the Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh are citizens of Azerbaijan. What should be done to make it possible to live together?

- I want to explain it in one sentence. If Azerbaijanis want to keep the Armenians as their citizens, and in the future to live peacefully with them, then they must learn to live together with the Armenians. Because, according to international law, Armenians are citizens of Azerbaijan, and peaceful coexistence is an important condition for their integration with other citizens of the country. What they write on social networks does not matter. What do you need to do to live together? How we would live with our neighbor after peace is achieved, the same attitude will need to be shown towards our Armenian citizens.

- What can become the guarantor of stability in the region? Who can be sure that two nations - enemies for years will live together?

- Now, the guarantee of stability after the arrival of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh depends, first, on the possible cooperation between Russia and Turkey. Otherwise, the peacekeeping activity that Russia can carry out unilaterally will not satisfy the population of Azerbaijan. Therefore, today two states will become the guarantors of stability in the region. Otherwise, it would be naive to hope for a long-term peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Both peoples lived with each other as enemies for 30 years. Now historical justice is being restored for Azerbaijan, and a new history of the losing process begins for Armenia. History puts peoples and states before new realities. The main thing is that nations can learn a lesson from this reality. Azerbaijanis and Armenians will also get used to living peacefully if they can learn from these historical realities.

- On the other hand, there are 350 thousand Azerbaijani refugees in Azerbaijan, expelled from Armenia. They must also be considered citizens of Armenia. What will be their fate? If Azerbaijan is ready to accept the Armenians living in the country, as well as those living in Nagorno-Karabakh, as citizens, then should not Armenia do the same? Should such issues not become the subject of negotiations between the two states?

- I would like Azerbaijan to understand that there is a difference in status and political approach between the people expelled from Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent regions, and the people expelled from Armenia. The return of people expelled from Nagorno-Karabakh to the territory where they live depends on the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.  The issue of returning people expelled from Armenia to Armenia depends on the settlement of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Apparently, we are just trying to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The process of resolving the conflict and normalizing relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia is not on the agenda. Therefore, the issue of returning refugees is not on the agenda. In this case, on the agenda will be the question of returning to Azerbaijan the Armenian refugees expelled from Azerbaijan.

- The President says that Nagorno Karabakh will not be granted any status. Earlier he said that we could provide cultural autonomy or governance to the living Armenians. What will be the form of government of Khankendi, Agdere, Khojavend and Khojaly now?

-We see the difference between Azerbaijan's position on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh before the war that began in September, and the fact that today the war actually ends with the advantage of Azerbaijan. A year ago, Azerbaijan was ready to give the Karabakh the highest status, today it is very difficult to say what this status will be after the changed situation. Naturally, at all times, Azerbaijan saw a subject within its territory and guaranteed him to receive some kind of status. Now that the conditions have changed, it will need to be discussed in a new format. The Armenians living today in Agdera, Khankendi, Khojaly, Khojavend, which the Azerbaijani army did not liberate from the occupation, will continue to live there. It is currently impossible to say what form of government will be there.  Azerbaijan has stated that the discussion of the status is not on the agenda now. In this case, our assumption may be wrong.

- What is your opinion? What can be done to restore stability in the region so that the conflict between the two nations ends and does not recur?

- First of all, the Azerbaijani and Armenian societies must put an end to the enmity between themselves. It is necessary to revise the memory of hostility inherited from history, change it and give preference to the policy of joint neighborhood. Azerbaijanis and Armenians must understand that peace is very important for their development and stable living. Otherwise, even after hundreds of years, it will be impossible to establish normal relations between the two peoples. Both peoples should add examples of good neighborliness to their historical memory.