About the Azerbaijani village Mazam and the stubborn fisherman of bordering village Berkaber

On May 16, the working meeting held in the Georgian village of Tekali discussed the existing situation in the border zone with Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as the problems of the bordering population resulted by inter-ethnic conflict. Azerbaijani social activist and a regular participant in the meetings of Tekali, Zamira Abbasova, said that she accompanied by an Azeri and a German, recently visited the village Mazam bordering the Gazakh region. Just opposite it, on the right bank of Joghaz water reservoir, the village Berkaber of Ijevan region is located. Zamira said that the nature there is wonderful, Armenians and Azerbaijanis could do a lot together for the development of tourism, but because of the conflict, they lose a lot.

In his words, there are few residents in Mazam and it is sad, one gets the impression that a man has died. There appeared no people, nor dogs and nor cats in the village. They youth have abandoned Mazam, and only elderlies are left. Zamira added, “I had not seen the Armenian position and Armenian soldiers in much a close distance. There was a lake there and an Armenian car parked on the shore, and civilians were having a rest there.” In his words, the Mazam residents have no more hatred towards Armenians, only a fear for their lives. Abbasova said that there are 10 pupils at the Mazam school and they often do not go to classes because the school is located opposite the Armenian positions. A Mazam young man has showed the Armenian position located opposite his house, 150 meters away, from where his house was attacked, the man pointed out the trace of the bullet on the window.

In Z. Abbasova’s words, Mazam residents are scared of turning on the light at nights. A Mazam resident has asked to convey his request to the Armenians – to move the Armenian position a little away or to change the positioning of the position. They have also asked that the Armenian forces do not shoot during the process of funerals in the village. Mazam residents said that the firings are coming to their direction not only from the Armenian position but also form the territory of Berkaber village. Tekali working group member, school principle of Nerkin Tsaghkavan bordering Mazam, David Yolchyan, in response to Zamira’a statement, said that the Mazam streets are illuminated at night. The author of these lines, continuing the topic, said that there are no firings from the Armenian villages in the direction of Azerbaijani villages. We also presented the fisherman’s story of Berkaber village. He was catching fish in Joghaz water reservoir, when the Azerbaijani fighters fired and injured him on his legs. But even after this incident, he continues fishing endangering his life, as, besides fishing, he has no means of living.

Head of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Azerbaijan office, Arzu Abdullayeva, said that he has been in Mazam and has shot a film. He said he was surprised at Mazam woman’s words. She was asked whether she hates Armenians. She has said, no, because people living in other side of the border also live in such conditions, and the Armenian mother also fears for the life of her child. Arzu Abdullayeva said that she has heard in Mazam about the Berkaber fisherman’s story. The Mazam people have presented it differently that look, the fisherman was shot, but he goes back to fishing in the dangerous zone, look, how Armenians are so stubborn. After the working meeting in Tekali, we asked the village mayor of Berkaberd, Arthur Madatyan, about the shootings. He informed that there were no firings on Mazam from the territory of village Berkaber. The Armenian soldiers guarding the border do not also initiate an attack when the Azerbaijani troops are firing our defense positions and the village Berkaber is forced to open fire in response.

Voskan SARGSYAN