About the possible coexistence of Armenia and Azerbaijan, “Aravot” spoke with Garnik Davtyan, an expert on Azerbaijan and the author of the book “Hatred toward Armenia at the Basis of the State Ideology of Azerbaijan.”
– Mr. Davtyan, considering the historical experience and the reality of recent years, how possible do you consider Armenia-Azerbaijan and Armenian-Azerbaijani coexistence?
The topic is extensive, but if I try to be brief, I would first emphasize that the above was not just an incident. It was aggression and provocation towards Armenia, not only to seize territories in the Tegh community but also to usurp the existing Armenian position that our soldiers tried to strengthen. As for coexistence, I consider Armenia’s coexistence with Azerbaijan to be possible only after at least 50 years, provided that the education system in Azerbaijan is completely revised and changed.
The second condition is that at the official level of Azerbaijan, all kinds of manifestations of hatred towards Armenians, the state-accepted propaganda formula of presenting Armenians as “inhuman,” should be excluded. And the third condition is that Azerbaijan accepts its crimes and actions and bears their consequences.
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For example, the act committed by Ramil Safarov, who killed the Armenian officer with an ax, war crimes during the 4-day and 44-day wars, which must be revealed and condemned at the official level of Azerbaijan. In the event of all this, it is possible to try to find edges to start coexistence with a neighboring, and in this case, an enemy state. In general, since the formation of the state of Azerbaijan, the coexistence of Armenians and Azerbaijanis has not been smooth. The hatred towards us has deepened over the years.
After the independence of Azerbaijan, the latter gave his hands even more freedom, violating international obligations. In this reality, I do not consider it possible to achieve peace, coexistence, or an outcome with any positive trend with the Azerbaijanis because the circumstances mentioned above have yet to materialize, and there is no certainty that they will occur soon.
The problems that exist between the two states have a profound historical basis. Although hatred in RA is relatively restrained and is considered inadmissible in the educational system, in Azerbaijan, there is “progress” only in the direction of deepening hatred. Therefore, I do not see the point of commenting on all such comments of the capitulated leader and other officials, but what they say also lacks logic and “real politics.”
– Since 2021, Nikol Pashinyan has been hinting at “managing the enmity,” publicly rising doubts about where that enmity comes from. Do you have doubts about that question?
– I think that when a person learns that he should be raped regardless of gender, instead of resisting, he says: “Well, that’s the reality, I agree”… Nikol Pashinyan’s policy is directly comparable to the “rape” of Armenia. That applies to all of us who live here and see our children’s future here. In general, I see one goal in his and Azerbaijan’s statements: they are fulfilling an order. I am inclined toward the Turkish-Azerbaijani side. Azerbaijan has several perceptions: ”
Armenians are good workers and street cleaners” and “Armenian women and girls should be a source of prostitution.” Of course, I’m sorry for the wording, but that’s how it is written in them. They look at all Armenian women and girls from that point of view. Nikol Pashinyan’s policy suggests that he does not believe in what he says but is carrying out a specific order, the purpose of which is to break the spirit of the Armenian people both concerning their national interests, the Artsakh issue, international recognition of the Armenian Genocide, and to provide that we should submit to the whims of Turks and Azerbaijanis.
Luiza SUKIASYAN
“Aravot” daily, 15.04.2023
