Thanks a million for your kind words, everyone! First, answering the question of "why English". Let's get real: how many Westerners, including serious political observers and decison-makers can one hope to attract by doing discussions in his/her mother tongue, as long as it is not English?
Now, to the The Issue. NK. First things first. Let's re-iterate Azerbaijan's approach towards the process. We view resolution as a stage-package one. First stage would consist of 8 or9 components, including withdrawal of the occupationsl forces from all terrritories of Azerbaijan around NK, de-mining, return of the IDPs, restoration of communications, security and confidence-building measures, etc., with the second embracing definition of the legal status of NK per se as a result of inclusive, constitutional, democratic process. In between those is restoration of the pre-war ethnic composition of the NK population.
Now, to the question on "Armenian settlement". It's a pure PR move, and not very good at that. Well, how low can you go? And the main thing - it's not effective.
Tahir and Khazar
Blog Archive
8 comments:
Three questions to Tahir:
1. I hope you do not mind that an Armenian comments sometimes in your blog?
2. Don't you think that in your "principles of regulation of Karabagh conflict" (though very general but quite logical) at least one crucial point is missed: Peace agreement as a guarantee against any attempt of resolving the conflict through war?
3. If yes, then why your official statements are so different to your principles? Don't you think, that what you state sometimes as an MFA spokesman goes beyond the rules of diplomatic correctness?
Dear All,
First of all, let me congratulate the authors with the creation of this wonderful blog. I wish you success in promotion of our national cause on international arena.
Second, using this opportunity let me introduce myself. My name is Vugar Seidov. I live and work in Budapest, and I represent the growing Azerbaijani diaspora. For a better acquaintance with my views, you are welcome to visit my blog at http://vugar-seidov.blogspot.com/
Third, despite I am not directly involved with the MFA, I do, however, closely follow developments in the region and our diplomatic initiatives. Boris has raised an interesting point. Indeed, the cornerstone of our foreign policy regarding the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict is peaceful settlement to the dispute, provided that Armenia voluntarily withdraws from the occupied Azerbaijani provinces and the Azeri IDPs safely return to their homes. This principle has been stated many times by our president and foreign minister.
Boris, after the comprehensive peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan is signed, international community can assume a new responsibility of acting as a guarantor to the peace and the security of the Azerbaijani citizens of both Armenian and Azeri origins in the country's Nagorno-Karabakh province. However, this new role of international community can come into effect only after the two parties to the conflict, Armenia and Azerbaijan, sign the peace agreement, but not before, while Armenia continues to occupy vast territories. How can the world prevent the resumption of hostilities, when our countries are technically still at war (no matter how much Armenians try to persuade the world that the conflict is between the so-called "NKR" and Azerbaijan) and unwelcome foreign troops are still stationed on the 20% of Azerbaijan's territory? Obviously, a long-lasting peace under the supervision of the world community can be attained only after Armenia withdraws its troops behind her international borders and the sovereignty of Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh is fully restored. Only then can international monitoring groups (and even peacekeepers, if you wish) come to the region to act as watchdog for minority rights.
Concerning Azerbaijan's commitment to peace, I have noticed that some Armenian as well as European politicians misunderstand and misinterpret the point. Azerbaijan indeed prefers peaceful solution to the conflict and it will try to refrain from using force until the last minute. However, it has to be made crystal clear that this commitment of Azerbaijan's is conditional upon the voluntary withdrawal by Armenia of her troops from the occupied territories. If Armenia refuses to leave what does not belong to her and instead tries to freeze the current situation indefinitely, Azerbaijan will have every moral and legal right to reassign the mission from the diplomats to the military. And then it will be Armenia who will bear full responsibility for every spilled drop of blood.
Regards,
Vugar Seidov
Congratulations on this excellent initiative! I look forward to some interesting discussions.
Best,
Elin
Vugar, I think I elaborated on the issue of "commitments to peace" in my comment that was not published in the blog. I will not, of course, repeat it again. But a couple of weaks later I will give you a link to a material where I describe more or less in details my vision of the peace process (there is embargo for this material to be displayed in the Internet before it appears for the public as publication).
Boris
Boris, I tend to believe that there were reasons not to publish some of your posts. I manage a blog too, and the policy of my blog is not to approve any comments that question Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and Nagorno-Karabakh being part of Azerbaijan. Denial of this fact is equal to the denial of the Holocaust. Are you sure your comments did not contain anything of this sort? If they did, then that could be the answer.
Regards,
Vugar
I'm not Boris, but I couldn't help but reply to this:
"I manage a blog too, and the policy of my blog is not to approve any comments that question Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and Nagorno-Karabakh being part of Azerbaijan. Denial of this fact is equal to the denial of the Holocaust."
How can any blog be taken seriously when its owner censors and restricts speech? Serious discussions cannot take place with such limitations. It is one thing to keep things clean and civil with regard to language, and something else to censor in disagreement. Why not demonstrate tolerance and debate the points you oppose?
Anyway, I'm an Azeri living in the US, and hope this blog is a serious attempt in promoting discussion.
Dear everybody:
1. This is, indeed, a blog to discuss, and with your help we hope to do it;
2. There is no censorship, but moderation on this blog;
3. Every idea, except for taboo words or insults will be published;
4. We saw nothing but the published posts by Boris sent to the blog.
5. We will not return to this kind of discussions again, because our intentions are....see point 1.
Best, Tahir&Khazar
Dear Phyek,
Censorship and moderation are different things. Furthermore, freedom of speech and freedom of denial of historical facts are not the same either. Otherwise, the recent UN Resolution condemning the denial of the Holocaust would have been considered the "violation of fundamental freedoms." However, it is not, and Armenia's best pal Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is condemned for his notorious remarks.
Putting Azerbaijan's right for territorial integrity under question is just as much inadmissible and immoral as the denial of the Holocaust. Hence, no comments of this sort approved for publishing in my personal blog. Everyone who accepts the rules is welcome to leave comments there, and everyone who wants to discuss such topics as "Armenian genocide", "Shusha as an ancient Armenian town", "self-determination of Artsakh", etc., can visit Hayastan, Groong and other similar newsgroups.
I hope I made myself crystal clear and consider the matter closed.
Regards,
Vugar
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