Tuesday, June 17 2014

Speech of Matthew Bryza, former U.S.  co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group and US ambassador to Azerbaijan, Director of the International Centre for Defence Studies caused scandal at the NATO PA seminar in Baku.

APA reports that making speech at the second part of the 86th seminar of the NATO PA on "South Caucasus: Challenges and Opportunities", M. Bryza said that Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents can not reach necessary level of mutual confidence for compromising and settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict yet.

Bryza noted that in spite of efforts by the OSCE Minsk Group for long years, the problem is still remaining unsolved: "It's needed to work hard to reduce usage of military version in the settlement of the conflict".

Without mentioning reasons of the conflict, M. Bryza called on sides to compromise generally.

Armenian delegation welcomed Bryza's speech and asked for speech out of the program. President of NATO PA Hugh Bayley called on them to stick to the time-limit. Thereafter, head of Armenian delegation Koryun Nahapetyan made speech. He demanded Azerbaijani side to withdraw snipers from frontline. Member of Azerbaijani delegation to NATO PA Gudrat Hasanguliyev commented on speeches of Bryza and Armenian delegation: "I always criticized M. Bryza's position and have to criticize again.  Though, Bryza is an independent expert, he conducts himself as a worker of the US Department of State and expresses its position.  Mr. Bryza, because of your spouse is Turk, Armenians did not allow you acting as an ambassador to Azerbaijan more than a year. Do you expect justice from them?"

Thereafter, G. Hasanguliyev told Armenians delegation: "An agreement on settlement of the conflict was reached at the end of 1990s between Azerbaijan and Armenia. However, an execution in Armenian parliament ruined everything. Armenian's behavior shows that it is not needed to conduct negotiations with it.  Because Armenia is afraid of Russia and they move under this fear. It would be better the talks to be held with Russia, but not Armenia. Since Karabakh war started, you have destroyed and banished all other nations. You changed Armenia to monoethnic country. Today, only strange nation in Armenia is servicemen of Russia's 102nd military base. What will you say about it?"

Hasanguliyev also responded to Armenia's accusations on that Turkey supports Azerbaijan: "During the first years of Karabakh war, President Abulfaz Elchibey asked Turkey for a helicopter to evacuate people from Kalbajar in order to prevent second Khojaly massacre. Turkey did not respond to us. Instead of it, Turkey gave 5 tones of grain to Armenia. Why don't Armenian delegation focus on this?"

Head of Azerbaijani delegation to NATO PA Ziyafet  Asgerov asked questions to Armenian delegation and Matthew Bryza: "Mr. Bryza, please, tell us what means Karabakh word? You don't know, let me tell you. Karabakh word is an original Azerbaijani word consisting of Kara Bakh (Black Garden). That's it is not Armenian word. This remained unchanged in medieval, period of Khanates, even USSR too. Mr. Bryza and Armenian counterparts where you address it will show that Karabakh is an Azerbaijani land. The article #1 of the UN SC resolution #822 says: "The UN Security Country condemns occupation of Kalbajar and neighboring regions by Armenia and demands immediate liberation". Next article says: "Occupation of Aghdam and neighboring regions is condemned and it's demanded Armenian troops to withdraw from there". Resolution #874: "The UN condemns occupation of Zangilan and neighboring regions by Armenia and demands immediate liberation. Same documents on other regions include same texts.  What do you need more?"

Z.Asgerov criticized international community for being indifferent to "occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenians": "The US destroyed Libya immediately after the UN SC resolutions, Iraq and other regions faced same policy due to chemical weapon. However, you could not find anything. Today, Iraqi people suffer torments, you know, I know too, but world community is not confused. Even, you destroyed Yugoslavia without any mandate of the UN. This is also your work, in your honest. Why is your honest so silent? However, the UN has resolutions regarding Nagorno Karabak for 20 years? Why are these resolutions still unfulfilled? You apply sanctions on Russia regarding Crimea, Ukraine. Why don't you impose sanctions on Armenia for 20 years? our territories also have been occupied. Mr. Fogh Rasmussen made a speech on Ukraine crisis at the NATO PA meeting in Lithuania. Why don't you make speech about Azerbaijan? Why don't you adopt resolution regarding Azerbaijan? Put an end to this double standards. Shame!"

Z. Asgerov added: "Armenian delegation says that Azerbaijani president called Armenia "enemy". Do we have to call it a friendly country? It occupied 20% of our territory, we have 1 mln of refugees. Now you demand us not to call you "enemy"? Mr.  Armenian MPs you occupied Azerbaijan's lands your posts are in Zangilan, Gubadli, Fuzuli and other regions. Now you demand us to withdraw the snipers from them. We'll withdraw snipers when you ge back to your Armenia-Azerbaijan border. I defend my territory from my enemy. What does your sniper do there? What do you do where my snipers are?"