Thus we come to conclusion that from ancient times a definite region has been known as Armenia. The people, whom we call Armenians, migrated into this region from the West. Date of this migration is 7th-6th centuries BC. Since that time they submitted to different tribes until Cyrus of Persian Empire subdued them. After the victory of Alexander the Great over Persians in 331 BC Armenia was absorbed by Macedon Empire. After Alexander's death in 323 BC wars of succession divided the empire among his generals. In 301 BC after the final devision Armenia became a part of Salucia. The state ruled by Salucian Dinasty, existed till 189 BC and was conquered by Rome in 66 BC. Different sources say that till the fall of Salucian Empire Armenia was governed by two rulers of Persian origin - Artaksiyax and Zariardis. After the victory of Romans they acknowledged protection of Roman senate. But since 95 BC Armenian leader Tigran, using temporary weakness of Rome as the result of so-called "social wars" inside the empire, and when Arshakids were busy by fighting against Saks, he unified all feudal dukes under his rule, added vast lands and established considerable state. But this independence lasted for 30 years and Tigran's state was annihilated by Roman general Pompey in 66 BC. Armenian ideologists still call this state "Great Armenia" of Tigran and regard him almost as a saint. But it's obvious that contemporary Armenia have the same rights for the lands forcefully seized by Tigran, as contemporary Italy or Iran have rights for the vast territories of Roman and Persian Empires respectively.
In 53 BC Arshakids of Persia defeated Roman army, and Armenia was conquered by the former. But the struggle for Armenia between Rome and Persia lasted for 63 years and ended by famous compromise: Armenia remained under rule of Rome, but the ruler had to be chosen from Arshakid dynasty. In 301 AD the ruler of Armenia (from dynasty of Persian Arshakids) accepted Christianity, but it took many decades until all Armenians accepted this religion. A great contribution to the victory of Christianity in Armenia was made by Byzantium, and this became the reason of Persian-Byzantine war, which finally divided Armenia in 390. Later, in 653 Armenia was annexed by Arabs, who ruled this country till 970, when Byzantium began the war against Arab Caliphate to return Armenia. But already in 1020 Turkic tribes of Oguz began their invasion and totally conquered Armenia. After domination of Seljuk Turks in Armenia, it was ruled by Horezm-shahs (1194), Il-khans (1258), Jalayirs (1334), Teymurids (1383), Ag-Koyunlu (1450), Safavids (1510). In 1555 during the war between Safavids and Ottoman Empire, Armenia was divided between them: Ottomans conquered Western Armenia, and Eastern Armenia remained under the rule of Safavids, until it was seized by Russian Empire in 1828.
If we don't take into account the short period of Armenian independence (1920-1922), then Armenia became independent only in 1991, after the collapse of the USSR. Therefore all claims of Armenia for independence and unique state-hood culture are radically unjustified, as well as their claims for the lands, forcefully seized by Tigran, are not justified. Having a lack of state-hood, Armenians for centuries tried to gain independence and self-determination in the struggle with their neighbors. But they could not attain this goal. And as the result of constant slavish existence and aspiration to survive at any cost - first of all on account of others, Armenian nationalists acquired specific features, such as terror against Turks in Ottoman Empire, and against Azeris in 1905, 1918, 1923, 1936, 1948, 1988. This terror resulted with many hundreds of thousands of Azeri victims; Armenian military-revolutionary parties, such as "Dashnaktsutyun" and "Gnchak", were established exactly for terrorist purpose. Armenian terrorists became very well known by organizing assassinations of employees of Turkish embassies in many capitals of the world in 70-s and 80-s. Terrorist essence of Armenian pseudo-patriots also displayed in October of 1999, when a group of terrorists (from "Dashnaktsutyun") captured Armenian parliament, killed the Prime minister, the Speaker, and a number of parliament members. Inflamed by imaginary "ideology" and led by Armenian Church, Armenian chauvinists became certain in their infallibility and started uncovered aggression against Azerbaijan. But the most dangerous thing for the international community is Armenian racism. Having believed in exclusiveness of "Armenian race", which takes its origins almost from "ancient Armenian ape" - the ancestor of all human race, Armenian nationalists have a great desire to establish "Great Armenia". According to this plan Armenian fanatics intend to seize the territories between Black, Mediterranean, and Caspian seas, totally enslaving and extirpating all "lower tribes and nations". And contemporary Karabakh problem is the first step to attain this racist idea. You should take under consideration, that the Armenian claims for Karabakh are absolutely groundless. From ancient times Karabakh was a constituency of states, which included the territories of contemporary Azerbaijan, and even during the time of Armenian independence the Azeri nation was able to defend its original lands from foreign invaders.
And until the annexation of Transcaucasia by Russia, Azeris were dominating not only in Karabakh, but also in the whole region. Certainly, Russian Tsarism was not interested in keeping Azeris as a dominating nation in the region after two Russian-Iranian wars (1804-1828), and Russian-Turkish war of 1828. Therefore in order to secure the new southern frontiers of Russian Empire, tsar Nicolas I encouraged migration of Russians into these territories. But at the same time Armenians with total number of 124,000 entered Karabakh from Iran and Turkey. What was the reason of such active Armenian migration? And the reason was, that Armenians in Turkey and Iran were subjected to repression, because during the latest wars with Russian Empire Armenian population made a great contribution to the success and victories of Russians by organizing revolts and uprisings in the interior of Turks and Persians. Therefore Russia included into Turkmenchay Peace Treaty of 1828 paragraph #15, which demanded to leave borders between Iran and Russia open to let Armenians enter Russian territory. And in order to strengthen its influence in the region, Russia settled them in Karabakh setting balance between its friends and enemies. Since that time Armenians started their continuous penetration into these lands; these streams intensified especially during aggravation of relations of Russia with Iran and Turkey. Finally during Soviet regime bolsheviks attempted to annihilate Azeri independence by granting autonomy to Armenian immigrants in Karabakh in 1923. The systematic eviction of Azeris from their native lands grew into a large-scale ousting, which was ignored by Soviet government. At last, when the proper time has come - and it was weakening of the Soviet Empire - Armenian nationalists began the realization of the idea of "Great Armenia" and organized revolts in Karabakh.
You should also know, that the word "Karabakh" is an original Azeri word and means "black mountains". The word "Artsakh", which is used by Armenians to call Karabakh, originates from Albanian words "Ar Sak" and means "manly Sak" (Albanians - the ancestors of contemporary Azeris - named these lands in commemoration of Saks, who lived here side by side with them). Thus, in 1988 Armenian chauvinists started the war against Azerbaijan.
Contemporary Armenia is the same destabilizing factor in the region as it was Germany in the first half of 20th century in Europe. Inflamed by racist - fascist idea to establish "Great Reich", Armenian leaders would not be able to begin the war with impunity, if afterwards Armenia was not supported by her eternal ally - Russia; and the latter strives to restore the empire. Expanding for centuries, Russia at the time of Peter the Great set its main goal - access to the mild southern seas. And in order to attain this goal Russia had to conduct incessant wars against Turkey from 18th till 20th century. Armenians played a significant role in this struggle. And today, we should remind, Armenia is an official ally of Russian Federation. Armenia receives not just economic and moral support from the big brother. Russia actively provides Armenia with arms. This policy is aimed to increase the tension in the region, because Russia aspires to extend the region, because Russia aspires to extend the conflict between two nations - Azeri and Armenian - adroitly using the principle "separate and rule". And Armenian nationalists, possessed by racist and fascist ideas, assist the realization of Russian plans. And Azerbaijan is just the first stage. It is very likely to be continued by Armenian aggression against Georgia, Turkey and other nations in the region. That's why the aggression of racist Armenian national-fascists must be stopped.
While the Russian dream of universal domination and access to the southern seas persists, then Armenian fascist idea will not be eradicated and Armenia will remain (for the sake of Russian desires) the major destabilizing power in the region.
By Turkhan Sadikhov
THE WAR
The first clashes between Armenians and Azeris took place in February of 1988, when Armenian separatists demanded eviction of Azeris from just the very Azeri villages and when leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO) attempted to separate this province from Azerbaijan and join Armenia. In a number of regions these clashes turned into large-scale civil disorders, resulting by death of many innocent Azeris. In late November of 1988 military detachments of Armenian Republic conducted the first in this conflict and the forth in the 20th century large-scale ethnic cleansing deporting over 200,000 Azeris (including women, children, the old) from the places of compact living of Azeris in Armenia.
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Incompetent actions of Moscow and the general crisis of USSR persuaded the leaders of separatist movement in NKAO and nationalistic organizations of Armenia in possibility and necessity to carry out the plan of forceful separation of Karabakh from Azerbaijan. And the ultimate goal was ousting the Azeri population from Karabakh, forming a new ethnic situation, and subsequent annexation of Karabakh by Armenia. Since 1988 all political activities of Armenia in all regional and international levels were aimed to realization of these goals. After Armenia actually escaped the control of Moscow, they managed to shift a number of industrial plants to production of primitive models of weapons. These arms and ammunition were secretly transferred to Karabakh; secret military formations of Armenian Republic tried to occupy other territories of Azerbaijan.
The aggressive policy of Armenian Republic resulted by occupation of over 20% of Azerbaijani territory. 20,000 people perished, over 50,000 wounded, 4,000 POWs or missing without trace. Over 1,100,000 Azeris left their homes and became
By Ismayil Abdulazimov
The Problem of Karabakh In Contemporary Azerbaijan.
Many times Armenian leaders showed their disrespect for the basic principles of UN statutes - territorial integrity of states, peaceful co-existence, etc. The perfect example is the fact of confirming the territorial integrity of Azerbaijani Republic, during the Lisbon summit. Besides this 4 resolutions of UN (822, 853, 874, 884) about withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the territory of Azerbaijan were not observed by Armenia.
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Military and political union of Armenia with the most influential power in the region - Russia, intensifies anti-Russian moods among Azeris, stimulate the leaders to seek the support of the West. Today there is sufficient potency in Azerbaijan to solve Karabakh conflict by both political and military methods. The Azeri nation is rich with its cultural traditions. We prefer peaceful settlement in accordance with principles of International Law. Karabakh, the historical land of Azeris, must be liberated from the armed forces of the foreign state. Many times the President of Azerbaijani Republic Heydar Aliyev confirmed the readiness to give the high status of autonomy to the Armenian community of Karabakh. Today our government is able to provide security of its citizens.
We are sure in the victory of rational mind. The international community has to understand the emergency of the situation, because this conflict became the precedent of separation movements in Europe. Exactly because of the reasons mentioned above, the settlement of this conflict has historical burden. The Azeri nation believes that it will be just.
By Kenan Mustafayev
REGION
Caucasus is a region which links East and West and differs from other regions with its uniqueness. The region can not be defined as West or East as it carries values from both. Besides geostrategic importance the region is attractive also with its natural resources. Azerbaijan is the largest country in Transcaucasia. Its resources in the Caspian sea had always been attractive to Great powers. Azerbaijan for centuries was unable to solve its destiny in the way he wanted. Nearly for two centuries this country was a part of Russian and later Soviet empire. Since the gain of independence the republic faced many problems worst of which is a conflict with Armenia over Nagorno Karabakh - an integral part of Azerbaijan. The war is stopped but solution of the problem is still invisible.
What are main causes of the war?
What prompted Armenia to start aggression against Azerbaijan ?
Since collapse of Soviet empire Russians started to loose influence in the region. Their debilitated economy and military was no longer in power to retain possessions. Thus Russia in order to keep the regional countries depended on it had to create local wars practicing old Roman policy of ''DIVIDE ET IMPERIUM''. Conflicts were artificially created in Georgia which fought two wars with its ceded provinces, Azerbaijan fought directly with Armenia trying to preserve its territorial integrity.
On the other hand the major regional nations as Turkey and Iran, the USA and Europe also tried to fill out vacuum of power in the region. While having so many external players with special interests in the region, the local governments attempted to use this opportunity to get rid of Russian influence. In 1993 those attempts embodied themselves in the "Contract of the Century". This agreement stipulated exploitation and export of Azeri oil from the Caspian sea to the West. Consortium consisted mainly of American companies which is proof to the fact that the US has long term interest in the region. Russia had to play a role of outsider. This role became brightly obvious in the Istanbul summit of OSCE where the heads of governments from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Turkey and US signed an agreement which became a continuation and enforcement of previously signed contract. According to this agreement in addition to the Azeri oil through the pipeline of the consortium will flow ''black gold'' from Kazakhstan to the West via Turkey.
Naturally Russia was outraged and in response started arming Armenia in one hand and fighting in Chechnya on the other. Right now Russia has considerable number of troops in the Northern Caucasus and some of them are deployed on the borders of Azerbaijan. Russia constantly accuses Azerbaijan and Georgia in supporting ''terrorists'' in Chechnya. As a mean of containing ''terrorists'' Russian air force constantly violates skies of Georgia and Azerbaijan and even does not refrain from dropping bombs on the villages. With these action Russia tries to mention to Azerbaijan about its existence and impede further Azeri-European integration.
In order to counterbalance its Northern neighbor Azerbaijan keeps close relations with Turkey. Azeri-Turkish alliance facilitated with ethnic and linguistic unity of both nations. Turkey which is trying to integrate with Europe is direct representative of Europeans in the region. To this time Turkey has not got an opportunity to get a membership in the EU which can be explained by the unwillingness of Europeans to accept Muslim country to the Christendom. In case this policy continues Turkey's pro-Western policy will one day end and it will turn its view on fraternal Muslim countries as Algeria, Iraq, Iran and may lead to the formation of new anti-Western block which will control Middle Eastern oil. The only thing which separates Turkey from those countries is its secularism and Kemalist coherence. By taking off its secularist dress Turkey will definitely dress up with Islamic conservatism and will try to transform it to Turkic speaking countries: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan). This will deepen East-West controversies and Islam will take strong positions in those parts of Russia where compactly live Muslims. Islam taken by westerners as something radical and belligerent but those should understand that this is the only way to join all followers of this religion to counter Western i.e. European and American neocolonism.
Another rival for regional hegemony is Iran. Both nations have some cultural similarities. Iran and Azerbaijan are followers of Shiism (branch of Islam). Iran is using this religion as tool to increase its influence over Azerbaijan. Iran, which is one of those countries that oppose and challenge West like Chinese (Cynic civilization), or Russians (Orthodox civilization). Although Iran's interests sharply contradicts Russian interests in Caucasus, Central Asia, and Chinese interests in Central Asia, at the same time has good relations with them and seem to be that they are allies. Iran sees as its potential rival only Turkey as this state besides being a carrier of western culture has more promising relations with the countries of Caucasus and Central Asia. That is why Iran together with Russia is trying to impede Azerbaijan's inclination to the West reflected in "The Contract of the Century" and pipeline Baku - Jeyhan. In spite of its religious affinity to Azerbaijan, Iran was actually supporting Armenia during the war over Karabakh. Iran would not like to see independent and strong Azeri state - a carrier of Western culture - in its northern border. Large portion of Iran's population ( 35 million out of 70 million) are Azeris, that live compactly in Northern Iran (Southern Azerbaijan). Yet in 19th century Azerbaijan was divided between Russia and Iran. Right now Northern Azerbaijan i.e. republic of Azerbaijan with capital Baku is independent , Southern Azerbaijan with capital Tebriz is under Iranian control.
In summary one major fact should be underlined that in Azerbaijan clash not only interests of great powers, but also civilizations and cultures. (Orthodox, Islamic, Western) and this fact can explain why the problem of Karabakh seems to be unresolvable.
By Vusal Musayev
Karabakh is integrated part of Azerbaijan.
Yet in 1970-s President Carter's Advisor on National Security Zbigniew Brzezinski wrote: "The ethnic question in USSR will apparently gain sharper forms, than racial crisis in United States." This prediction turned out not to be a "slander of an anti-Sovietist", but a real political forecast. Armenians, hungry for alien lands, brought the fire of undeclared war to the peaceful land of Azerbaijan. Armenia announced its pretensions on the part of Azeri territory - Mountainous Upper Karabakh. There is such a term - sexual anxiety, and there is also an alcoholic anxiety. But national anxiety can also turn into a maniacal anxiety. And this is some kind of sickness (in our case it is so-called "Armenian sickness"). At some moment a passive anxiety becomes very aggressive and maniacal. A nationalistic maniac acts like a sexual one, like a drunkard in fever, - violating and killing. Don't get surprised after this at the words of Azeri patriot, who says, that giving Karabakh to Armenia is the same as they would rape your sister or mother (because native land is Motherland), or national honor. It was not hard to catch the essence of "Karabakh movement", it was chauvinistic and separatist. Thus, the conflict in Karabakh is a well-planned and prepared in advance affair. The leaders of "Karabakh movement" brought the principle of self-determination of a nation to that extreme, where separatism begins. The main slogan of "Karabakh movement", controlled and managed from Yerevan (the center of Azeri region Erevan before 1918, now the capital of Armenia), was "Miatzum!".
The History clearly shows, that Bourgeoisie, Communists, and new "Democrats" ruling Armenia, show a touching consensus in their desire to swallow neighboring lands. Only half a million ethnic Armenians lived in the territory of contemporary Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan by the time of annexation of Transcaucasia by Russian Empire in 1st half of 19th century. After the establishment of Soviet regime in the region (1920 - 1921) the situation stabilized. The major reason of this stabilization was the temporary satisfaction of tremendous appetite of Armenian chauvinists - the former Azeri region Zangezur was handed over to Armenia. But Armenian rulers - now Communist - used any chance to display their territorial claims.
Soon after the World War II the head of Armenia - Arutyunov, addresses to the Central Committee of Communist Party of USSR with petition to make Karabakh a part of Armenian Republic. The Head of Azerbaijan Soviet Republic at that time agreed with irony and proposed a contrary claim to Armenian and Georgian Soviet Republics and also to Daghestan Autonomous Republic (all these states are neighboring with Azerbaijan) about handing over the regions, mainly populated with Azeris, to Azerbaijan. Thus, the question raised by Arutyunov was denied. But there still was another opportunity to satisfy the appetite of Armenian chauvinists. Of course, this one was less effective, but they did not neglect it. For decades Armenian nationalists conducted the purposeful ousting of Azeris from Armenia. The nationalistic rulers of Armenia already reached their goal by the end of 1980-s. Armenia became mononational and "ethnically clean" as the result of forced deportation of Azerbaijani population. Eighty years ago more than half a million Azeris lived in the territory of contemporary Armenia. Every year on 24 April Armenia celebrates "the day of genocide" (so-called "The Day of Commemoration of victims of Armenian genocide in Turkey" in 1915, which is not recognized by the majority of historians in the world). "Genocide" is the ideological basis for Armenian terrorism and the slogan "Ay-dab" (means "Armenian justice for genocide") is the contemporary basis of political conception of Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktzutyun, which is de facto becoming the conceptual ground of Yerevan's foreign policy, implying "punishment" of Turkey for the "genocide" of Armenians and territorial compensations for Armenia in expence of Turkey, Azerbaijan, and even Georgia. "Ay-dab" is the ideological slogan used for uniting foreign Armenian diaspora and point idea justifying the terrorist activities of ASALA and "Vindicators for Armenian Genocide", involved in assassinations of famous Turkish and Azeri political figures and diplomats. That time you could lose your life for a word spoken in Turkish or Azeri in the street. The cities of Armenia were becoming monoethnical. But it was not easy to oust Azeri peasants, and Armenian fascists used special means and methods. In 1948 Armenian chauvinists with mediation of Mikoyan and Beria and in collusion with Stalin deported 100,000 Azeris from Armenia to Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan in order to settle Armenians- repatriates in their lands - this is a classic example of ethnic cleansing.
The task of cleansing of Karabakh from Azeris was brought before Dashnaks in 1972. All specific plans and methods of their realization were drawn in Armenia. In 1979-1980 the process of forming the detachments of Armenian army was started. Thus, Armenian militarists initiated the actual realization of carefully created plans. The Karabakh policy of Dashnaks became the main point of their strategic task - establishing "Great Armenia" from Mediterranean Sea to Black and Caspian seas, following by annexation of vast territories in Transcaucasia, Asia Minor, and even Crimea. In 1988 you could hear the following from Armenian national-chauvinists: "For the first time we have the unique opportunity to cleanse Armenia." Just pay attention to the subtlety of the vocabulary! "To cleanse…" Won't you recall Ribbentrop and nazi gas cameras? "Get out of Armenia, damned Turks!" - that was the beginning of the crash.
Independent state of Azerbaijan was established on the base of originally formed nation. Azeri nation declared its independence in 1991 and became a sovereign state. The Republic of Azerbaijan was declared the successor of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918-1920). Huge energetic resources (in the beginning of the 20th century half of the world's oil was produced in Baku), real agricultural potency (this sector of economy is very prospective), advantageous strategic situation (Brzezinski called Azerbaijan a "geopolitical standpoint"), "business spirit" of Azeri nation and other factors will assist the prosperity of Azerbaijan. After gaining independence Azerbaijan became a full righteous member of United Nations, OSCE, NIS, Organization of Islamic Conference, Union of Turkic States, Organization of Black Sea Economic Cooperation, International Monetary Fund, European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, Islamic Bank of Development, established contacts with European Council, Europarliament, NATO and other organizations. From the moment of establishment the young Azerbaijan Republic declared its adherence to the basic principles of peaceful policy. The foreign policy of Azerbaijan is based on the principles of peaceful co-existence, cooperation, non-intervention into the internal affairs of other states.
Undeclared war, which was started by Armenia, was a self-defense, display of self-preservation. Unfortunately, predictions of Brzezinski came true: "In the next 20-30 years Nationalism will become a real dynamic power. Soviets will not be able to control the problem of their nationalities. Their system is facing a fatal crisis." Karabakh became the first symptom of the collapse of USSR. A month later since the Constitutional Act of Independence was passed, Armenian troops blew up the Azeri helicopter with well-known public and political figures on board. This cruel act of violence actually started the active military operations in Karabakh. Armenian aggressors, following the idea of "Great Armenia", banished all Azeri population from Karabakh. After seizure of Shusha and Lachin region the annexation of Karabakh was over.
Using Karabakh as a springboard, Armenian troops occupied six other Azeri regions - Kelbejar, Agdam, Fizuli, Jebrail, Zengilan, and Gubadli, which are situated as Lachin out of the territory of Karabakh. As the result of Armenian aggression more than 20% of the territory of Azerbaijan is occupied by armed forces of the Republic of Armenia. Words can't describe the losses of Azerbaijan: 20,000 dead, about 100,000 wounded, 6,000 prisoners of war; more than 1 million of Azeris (15% of the population of Azerbaijan) became refugees and live in tent towns; 700 towns and villages are destroyed, all houses, schools, hospitals in them are plundered and burned. An unrecoverable damage was made to Azeri culture, many memorials of ancient culture were terminated. All these are the brutal violation of International Law, aggression against the territorial integrity and political independence of Azerbaijan. The war created a social tension. A tremendous material damage was made to the people of Azerbaijan.
In connection with these seizures UN Security Council passed 4 resolutions and 6 declarations of its Chairman. They confirm sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan, demand immediate, absolute, and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian armed forced from all seized territories, and also appreciation of borders of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Besides ignoring the basic principles of UN, Armenia also violated many fundamental principles of International Law, established in the international document - "Act of Conclusion" of CSCE (1975) (also called "Helsinki Declaration"). Thus, Armenia violated the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th principles, which built the foundation of foreign policy of the nations-participants of Helsinki summit. That was the violation of the following principles:
2. Non-application of force or threatening by force;
3. Integrity of borders;
4. Territorial integrity of states.
Though Armenia is a member of OSCE, this nation violates the juridical basis of this prestigious international organization. All actions of Armenian nationalists are motivated by hatred toward Azeris. Thus, as a result of a slaughter in Khojali (1992) 613 Azeris were cruelly killed, and the Russian regiment No. 366, located in Karabakh, took a direct part in this slaughter (that is exactly an act of hatred for humanity - one of the gravest crimes contemporary world). There are reliable facts of terrorist and extremist activities of Armenian chauvinists (and all these happen in the end of 20th century, when the whole world fights against terrorism), including brutal violation of human rights and freedom. There are also facts of assassination of Azeri POW's, torturing them and all these methods are prohibited by International Law. Thus, we are coming to the following conclusion:
1. Armenia is conducting a dangerous and prospectiveless policy, harming security and cooperation in Caucasus and in the whole Europe;
2. Armenia does not want to acknowledge the borders and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, acknowledged by UN, OSCE, and the majority of countries in the world; declares territorial claims to Azerbaijan and conducts a seizure policy;
3. Armenia does not regard the settlement of Karabakh problem on the basis of International Law, has annexed the territories of Azerbaijan and doesn't want to return them, and in this way challenges the whole international community;
4. The territories of Azerbaijan are under occupation, therefore Azerbaijan has the right to use all possible means in order to return them;
5. Armenia's aggressive policy becomes a serious obstacle for establishing a new order in Europe and in the world.
The Karabakh conflict remains one of the most protracted ethnopolitical conflicts in the post-Soviet territory. Since 1994 the regime of seize-fire have been in force (in 1994 the agreement of armistice was signed in Bishkek). But don't think that we lost in the war for the integrity of our Motherland. Turks have a very exact saying: "Justice warriors never die, Motherland can not be shared." The struggle is not over yet. The word "armistice" does not mean "peace", it implies a temporary break on the way of final settlement of a conflict. And only those are defeated, who admit it and put up with it. The Azeri nation is absolutely ready to rebuff the insolent territorial claims of Armenia by mobilization of all its moral and physical power. The only way to the victory (we have a moral right for it: Revenge, Vengeance, satisfaction of national pride, strengthening the national self-confidence) lies through the solid unity of the whole nation. The main target of Azerbaijan's foreign policy is acknowledgement of Armenia as an aggressor by the world community, peaceful settlement of the problem by involving international organizations in the process of settlement. The Azeri diplomacy is using all opportunities for the fair settlement of the conflict on the basis of the three principles reflected in the 20th paragraph of the Final Declaration of the Lisbon summit of OSCE (1996):
1. Territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia;
2. Offering the high status of autonomy (home-rule) to Nagorno Karabakh, but as a part of Azerbaijan;
3. Guarantees for security of the all civil population of Karabakh.
The war has facilitated to the unity of the Azeri nation and now we can speak about the integrated mentality of the nation. This ethnic psychology of Azeris includes their readiness to protect Motherland, to become shahids (self-sacrificing heroes) and true patriots. Mass military psychology assisted to turn patriotism into the highest unifying feeling of entire Azeri nation. The word "Karabakh", so dear and close to hearts, has gained aa magic power. Karabakh is not a simple word or ethnonym, there is something more, even sacramental in this word for each Azeri. It has made solid the building of Azeri national self-consciousness and unity, which was fragile before. Today you can find few people who would not agree, that just settlement of Karabakh conflict is the foundation of future existence and independence of Azeri statehood. Dissents are possible only on the question about the ways and methods of the conflict's settlement. And here we want to remind the basic principle of Machiavelism - "all means are useful to attain the goal". If the military way is necessary, we'll be ready to fight too. In international historiography our ancestors - Turks - are regarded a martial nation, which conquered a vast territory in Asia and Europe, reached even Africa, established great empires (Empire of Seljuk Turks, Great Ottoman Empire, Sefevi Empire), and we are very proud of them. In comparison Armenia is a viserable nation (great Russian poet A.S.Pushkin says in his poem «Tatzit» by the words of an old mountaineer: «You are a slave, you are a coward, you are an Armenian»).Military solution (guerilla war is not excluded) has all chances for victory, because in comparison with Armenia Azerbaijan has better economic advantages and more human resources, and Azeri national patriots are full of desire to revenge for insulted national dignity and to return Karabakh back. Azeri national army is able to protect the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and if needed, to liberate the seized lands. The basic principle of our military-strategic conception is protection of independence and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
Everyone perfectly knows that only «support» of powers , which are hostile toward Azerbaijan, assisted military success of Armenia. The word «support» can not embrace all what Armenia received from its patrons (first of all Russia). Since 1995 Armenia received modern types of armament equaling to $1 billion from Russia - and all for free! Armenia, interested in freezing of unstability in the region, thus increased its military might. How can you talk about the «victory» of Armenia, when Azerbaijan faced counteraction of ex-super power Russia and indifference or sometimes even unveiled economic support of Iran for Armenia. As a result of Armenian-Russian cooperation established in 1992, the parties already realized about 30 military agreements. There are military squadron consisting of bombers MIG-23 and a Russian military base in Armenia. The armaments for $1,000,000,000 includes modern equipment for anti-aircraft defense («Arrow-10», «Igla») and radar systems. Beside this Russia gave 5 military jets MIG-29 to Armenia, a great number of trucks, tanks, and heavy rocket-artillery systems. The increase of military arsenal of Armenia is a direct violation of «Convention of Ordinary Offence Armaments Reduction in Europe». As Azerbaijan is trying to solve the conflict by diplomatic methods, Armenia is on the way of active militarization. Besides Armenia feels its unsecure and unstable position in Karabakh and it is afraid of inevitable just «vengeance» by Azerbaijan. «Don't worry, mister Annexor, you will not stay long in Karabakh!» The Azeri nation will not stop until it returns back, what was stolen by Armenian chauvinists, who dream about Great Armenia. Whether by political methods, of by military means, the great Azeri nation shall restore historical justice, expressed in the words of truth: «Karabakh is an integrated part of Azerbaijan».
By Fareed Guliyev
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