The political scientist about Armenian-Azerbaijani relations
OSCE Minsk Group co-chair James Warlick expects a positive move in Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. In the meantime, he has had a meeting with the presidents of the two countries to organize their upcoming meeting.
Deputy Director for the “Caucasus” Institute, political scientist Sergey Minasyan believes that it has been seven or eight years, since the Key West talks in 2008, these meetings are merely a formality, but at the same time, he notes that the presence of such meetings is important for maintaining a ceasefire regime in the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. “In the case of suspension of these talks, it would be impossible to continue maintaining the ceasefire regime. Everyone understands it, says Mr. Minasyan and continues, – The talks of recent years are about the maintenance of the ceasefire regime, but I also see problems here, because hardly Azerbaijan would voluntarily give up its desire of the only resource or the influential leverage which it gets from this escalation situation. Azerbaijani create escalation in the contact line trying to influence the Armenian side.”
Sergey Minasyan opines that by creating a tension in the contact line, Azerbaijan creates sentiment and tension in its society. “I do not think that the Azerbaijani public wants to see this escalation or it gets pleasure out of it, no matter of the nationalistic rhetoric there. But the fact that the political elite uses it, it is a fact. Thus, it not only tries to divert the public attention from social issues on the background of falling of the oil prices, moreover, the elite has a problem with its image, because it is not their children who are dying on the border, but the children of ordinary Azerbaijanis.” Referring to the Azerbaijani nationalistic politics, Sergey Minasyan spoke to us also about Reshad Mamedov having an “Armenian blood” and appearing in the spotlight of the Azerbaijani media recently, who allegedly had changed his surname under the pressure of Azerbaijani authorities.
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The political scientist opines that no random man in Azerbaijan can become rich, the countries authorities would not allow it, and they recalled the roots of the businessman living in Baku when a noise around him was raised. Sergey Minasyan noted that as in Turkey so as in Azerbaijan, the government authorities are trying to label the Armenian man, and reminded the Turkish President Erdoğan’s statement, considering that the same logic rules in Azerbaijan too. “They recalled this person’s being Armenian when he encountered problems, this was one of the charges,” says the political scientist.
We also talked to Sergey Minasyan about the interview of the Armenian film director Tigran Khzmalyan with Azerbaijani haqqin.az media, as well as the “labellings” by a part of the Armenian society to the film director. The political scientist notes that he has also given an interview to this media a week ago. He believes that labeling someone is unacceptable, any person has the right to express its opinion to any media, if it is not a violation of the law on “Freedom of Information”. Yet, he analyzes this issue differently. He believes that the political-scientific analysis on the situation in the country should be provided by an expert. “What reaction would follow if I as a politician would give an interview about Fellini or Prokofiev? Today, I also receive calls and people ask about the rise of electricity fees, but I am not an expert on this issue, and my comment would be wrong,” says Sergey Minasyan.
Hripsime HOVHANNISYAN
