Azerbaijani president’s words not worth any attention - Garnik Isagulyan

Chairman of the National Security party Advisor to the Nagorno-Karabakh Permanent Representation in Armenia Garnik Isagulyan believes that Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev’s latest claims that he will peacefully return to Yerevan after Armenia has been depopulated are not worth any attention.

“Azerbaijan’s authorities are in time trouble, being well aware their April gamble largely failed,” Mr Isagulyan said.

During the Nowruz celebrations, Azerbaijan, through mediators, requested that the Armenian side refrain from border escalation. However, in defiance of their own commitments, they unleashed hostilities this April, with rather serious expectations.

“After encountering strong resistance by the Armenian side, they came to realize that there was no succeeding in this way,” he said.

Nagorno-Karabakh has improved its defense, and residents are returning to Talish.

Asked if the Azerbaijani president’s word mean he does not want to resume hostilities now, Mr Isagulyan said:

“I understand Azerbaijan does not rule out it ‘peacefully reaching Armenia’ when Baku itself is not Azerbaijan’s capital. I do not see any other way. They may come to Armenia after they sign a capitulation. And we’ll guarantee his security. The rest he knows.”

In response to Tertt.am’s remark concerning the advisability of the Armenian and Azerbaijani FMs’ meeting on the sidelines of the 23rd OSCE Ministerial Council, Mr Isagulyan said:

“We should wait for the US Administration to change. The influential EU member-states – Germany, France and Italy – are much more confused now. And the EU is not yet prepared for such a meeting. The EU Ministerial Council itself cannot clearly state its position on the EU’s problems. So what can they do for Nagorno-Karabakh?”

The EU is not playing a major role in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. Rather, Russia and the United States are mainly dealing with this region. On the other hand, the Armenian side should not avoid negotiations.

“We can just hear what [Azerbaijani FM Elmar] Mammadyarov says.”