Ozkek with President of Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev.

AzerTAj offers its readers the text of the interview.

LET THEM RELEASE 5 REGIONS, AND WE'LL OPEN THE DOOR

The flag of Azerbaijan streaming in the Black Sea

I notice first changes right after landing in Baku airport. Now it is named after Heydar Aliyev. This is not, however, the only change. Those in people’s attitude to Turkey are also noticeable this time. Everyone I was talking to, asking just one question: will you open borders with Armenia?

Before my arrival here, some 20 Azerbaijani journalists had left Nakhchivan for Turkey, where they are now holding the campaign “Do Not Open Borders with Armenia”. Some opposition papers call on to even expel the Turkey’s Embassy in case of the country’s opening borders.

In the evening, we are in the “Izmir” restaurant located in the “Izmir” park. Singers appear on the stage one after another, every next voice is better than the previous one. The last singer starts singing the song “Charpinirdi Gara Deniz” /The Black Sea Storming/exiting the audience. She starts swinging the Turkish flag with her one hand, and the Azeri flag with other. The song’s last chorus says: we will do hoist Azerbaijan’s flag in Karabakh.

In such an atmosphere, we are talking with President Ilham Aliyev. And one of the reasons for giving interview to Guner Jivaoglu from “Mlliyet” and to me on the eve of the President’s visit to Turkey was most likely a desire to bring the state of Baku public opinion to Turkey.

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ERTOGRUL OZKEK: Passing away of esteemed President Heydar Aliyev was a loss to the whole Turkish world, Azerbaijan and Turkey.

ILHAM ALIYEV: That was a really great loss to us. He had been suffering from the disease, but it is impossible to put up with the loss.

- When was the last time you saw the esteemed President?

- In September.

- Met in America?

- Yes, I had held the office of Prime Minister by that time. I went to see him. Twenty days later, elections were held. Right upon arrival I began my pre-election campaign. I planned to go there once more after the elections on December 16, but he passed away on 12th.

Rate of growth reaches 11%

- This time, I found Baku changed. A lot of newly erected buildings. What about economic development?

- Our economy is on the right way. Rate growth has reached 11 percents. Azerbaijan came from communist system. Today, however, the share of private sector makes up 74%, and this points to market economy in force.

- Are you pleased with the course of oil pipeline construction?

- The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan is being successfully constructed. This is Heydar Aliyev’s brain-child, as well. I am pleased with the work being done on the pipeline.

- Will the developments in Georgia have any impact on the system of oil transportation?

- No, they won’t.

- Is it possible to use Iranian territory or any other route?

- It is possible in the future, this is a question of tomorrow, not today. Maybe Azerbaijan will produce so much oil that we will have to lay additional pipelines.

The point is not ecologists but Armenian Lobby

- What about those who opposed the project?

- The Baku-Ceyhan project’s opponents have not yet given up their policy. On the first phase, the countries-opponents were frankly disputing the project. Now the tactics has been changed. The non-governmental organizations operating as “environment protectors” and under the influence of the Armenian lobby, want impede its realization.

- How do you see further developments in the Caucasus? After the collapse of the Soviet Union, three strong leaders were in the region: Demirel in Turkey, Heydar Aliyev here, and Shevardnadze in Georgia. It helped to avoid losses. At the moment, however, the three countries’ leaders do not have due experience. May it cause any problems?

- Unfortunately, instability exists in our region. The Caucasus today is so sensitive region that the slightest mistake may lead to tragedy. You have been quite right saying they were very strong leaders. Their unity, friendship, personal relations were playing very important role. I hope we, the young ones, will continue their traditions.

Karabakh and Cyprus are not the same

- Mr. President, we often hear in these last days that following the settlement of the Cyprus problem, that of Palestine- Israel and Karabakh conflicts will be put on a waiting list, and that you will be put more pressures. Do you share this opinion?

- I see no parallel between these problems. Azerbaijan has always been subject to pressure. But it is totally unjustified as we are not the source of the conflict. Armenia occupied our territories. Nagorny Karabakh and 7 adjacent territories are still under occupation. As a result, 40 thousand Azerbaijanis from Nagorny Karabakh, 700 thousand from the adjacent regions were forced to migrate.

- Are there other refugees?

- Naturally, 250 thousand Azerbaijanis from Armenia. There are also 20-50 thousand Meskheti Turks. Therefore, over one million refugees exist in Azerbaijan today.

- Is it possible that the conflict will not be settled?

- The large states, OSCE and Minsk group directly engaged in the problem should approach its settlement on the base of the international legal norms. Territorial integrity of Azerbaijan must be restored.

- What about Armenians in Nagorny Karabakh. They say of self-determination.

- Armenians have got the independent Armenian state. If they declare the principle of self-determination wherever they live, will they manage to establish more Armenian states in Georgia, France or America?

- If you had to address Armenia from here, what would you suggest in concrete words to settle the conflict?

- I’d say frankly: first, we will never accept the developments de-facto. These lands will never be a part of Armenia, and no independent Armenian republic will be created there.

- Isn’t it too categorical and implacable stance? Maybe there is a need to be more constructive, in order to start negotiations at least?

- We do have a constructive proposal.

- What is it?

- On the first phase, we suggest them to withdraw troops from the occupied regions to start negotiations. Right after that we will open railway communications; economic links will be re-established, and it will become possible to open borders between Armenia and Turkey. We will also give the highest autonomous status to Nagorny Karabakh.

- How do you see the situation of the Armenians living in Karabakh?

- Our proposals are as follows: we are ready to give highest possible autonomous status to Armenians of Nagorny Karabakh, but not independence.

- What status?

- For instance, national minorities are living throughout the world. We are ready to give the highest level of autonomy, in the broadest sense of the word.

Pressure exists, but one cannot ignore the national aspect

- Mr. President, some anxiety has been observed in Azerbaijan in relation to opening borders between Turkey and Armenia. What would you say in this regard?

- This is Turkey’s internal affair. We have not received an official notification from Turkey. So, I would say nothing about it at the moment.

- What would you say if Turkey, however, opened the borders with Armenia?

- Sure, it would cause damage to Azerbaijan-Turkey relationship. Our President Heydar Aliyev used to say that we are one nation, two states. So I don’t think it’s possible. In addition, Armenians claim not only for our lands but also Turkey’s. Realization of such an idea would arouse deep regret in Azerbaijani people.

- Turkey, however, is preparing to join the European Union, so opening the borders is important condition. Turkey is taking certain steps concerning the problem of Cyprus as well.

- We know Turkey is subject to pressure. We also want Turkey to join the European Union. But Turkey is a large state. Putting pressure does not make it necessary to ignore national aspect. Discussions have not yet started, and even if they start, how long will they take - one year, five years…

Baku Armenians are our men’s wives

- Do you maintain contacts with Armenian President?

- We once met.

- Did he, for instance, congratulate you on the election as President?

- No.

- Did he send a letter of condolences after Heydar bey’s passing away?

- Yes, it was a telegram.

- Population of Armenia is decreasing. People leave the country.

- But Armenian lobby stays. One should not take Armenia just as a country. Armenian Diaspora is very strong.

- Are there still Armenians in Azerbaijan?

- There are some 20 thousand Armenians in Baku. They are mainly wives of Azerbaijani men.

- What about Azerbaijani women married Armenians.

- Very few. It happened very rarely in the past.

We don’t have Islamic movement

- Does the Islamic movement exist in Azerbaijan, and how strong is it?

- No, it is out of question. Our public is guided by the principle of good will.

- How much is percentage of Christian population?

- 5-7 percents.

- What about Jews?

- Some 100 thousand people.

- Greater than in Turkey.

- There have always been a lot of Jews here. Both in Soviet times and now. They live in peace.

- Are those Russians who have stayed here pleased with their living conditions?

- I think they really are, they would leave otherwise. We treat them kindly.