“As for the ethnic cleansing, I do not agree with the assertion that it has stopped and we are in a new situation now. I want to say that I checked that there were no Armenians left in Shushi or Hadrut,” Professor at the Lehigh University in the USA, Arman Grigoryan, said during the discussion titled “One Year Later: Building the Future of Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Post-War Period” in response to the allegations of former Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Tofik Zulfugarov that Azerbaijan had stopped the 44-day war and cut the chain of mutual ethnic cleansing.
Referring to Tofik Zulfugarov’s argument that Azerbaijan stopped the war on its own initiative, he said, “I do not agree with that statement. This was done so as not to create problems with Russia. It would not have happened if it were not for the Russian intervention. The Russians were not particularly excited about Azerbaijan’s victory, which is why Azerbaijan did not move forward.” In response to the allegations that it would be good for Armenia to find common ground with its neighbors, Arman Grigoryan spoke about the rhetoric of the Azerbaijani leadership about the Zangezur corridor, their rhetoric about Erivan and Gokchan being theirs, and their iron fist threats.
Then he reminded Tofik Zulfugarov, who called for returning to reality, about 1992 and noted, “Armenia’s official demand is related to the realization of the right of people living in Artsakh to self-determination. This is the basis of many independence movements. Even Azerbaijan could not be an independent state without the right to self-determination. Armenia’s official position on Turkey since 1992 has been the establishment of diplomatic and economic relations without preconditions. But Turkey has set preconditions.”
According to Arman Grigoryan, the opening of communications is a positive step, but the use of the term corridor is very sensitive. According to him, Lachin should not be considered a corridor, but a guaranteed way to Artsakh. According to Arman Grigoryan, if in this case it is really about unblocking and not attitudes about a corridor, then it is unlikely that there is a reasonable person in Armenia who will be against it.
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Tofik Zulfugarov, referring to the issue of ethnic cleansing in Shushi and Hadrut, said in response, “First of all, it was on the territory of Azerbaijan, and not on some political structure, which you imagine has the right to self-determination. Everyone knows that before Shushi came under the control of Armenian forces, it was inhabited by 18,000 Azeris and 1,400 Armenians. Even Pashinyan himself said that Shushi is not Armenian.” After stating all his thoughts, Tofik Zulfugarov stated that the Karabakh conflict was resolved, and they were now resolving the issue of resettlement of the Armenian population in Azerbaijan.
He assured that Armenians can get equal citizenship in the territory of Azerbaijan and said, “As you know, many Azeris once lived in Armenia. If the Armenian side wants to teach us a lesson in tolerance, then we are waiting for the example of how they provide autonomy for the Azerbaijanis in their territory, and in a mirror expression Azerbaijan will give the Armenians such an opportunity. Armenia should finally look at the map and understand that they can not go to the neighboring country without the leadership of Azerbaijan. Today, announcements are made to close the Lachin corridor, as armed Armenian groups remain there. What would a state do if there were illegal armed groups in its territory? You must understand that Azerbaijan will not allow the existence of a hearth that will be a threat to our territorial integrity. In that case, we must deviate from our political line. Will Armenia allow an enclave in its territory where the Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan will go (meaning the visit of the former Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia Arshak Karapetyan to the Republic of Artsakh -TH). That’s not realistic, is it? Why should there be such exceptions for the Armenian side? You should not poke your nose into governing a neighboring country without permission. If you think that the Armenian Minister of Defense can enter Azerbaijani territory, then you should expect that Azerbaijanis can come to Armenia.”
Speaking about the unblocking of communications, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan spoke of the November 9 agreement and said, “The November 9 agreement refers to two corridors, but only in the case of Lachin is the word corridor used. It is said that the security forces should ensure its security. But these forces did not fall from the sky; they came at the invitation of Azerbaijan. With its signature, it invited them to its sovereign territory, temporarily for five years. The text refers to the Meghri corridor, where the Russian border troops should provide security. Why is Armenian society against it? After all, the borders of Armenia have been guarded by Russian border guards since 1992. Armenia gave its whole railway line to Russia. We have invited Russian temporary peacekeepers, and they must provide security in Lachin. But they perform the function of border troops, but in no practice do peacekeepers perform customs service. That is why Azerbaijan must change that situation. In other words, the economic security of the Lachin corridor will be provided by the Azerbaijani customs, and security by the Russian forces.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
