Chairman of the Justice, Law, Democracy (AHD) Party, Member of Parliament Qudrat Hasanguliyev has made important statements and voiced sensational proposals to Musavat.com regarding the continuation of traditional anti-Azerbaijani and anti-Turkish rhetoric at various levels following the formation of the new government team and parliament in Armenia.
We present the interview:
– Qudrat bey, a new government and a new parliament have started working in Armenia. One might have expected that Nikol Pashinyan and his team, who announced a new system of relations by saying “Real Armenia” and claimed they were ready for peace, would have a sharply different perspective on issues. However, initial observations, the claims of the new speaker, the space given to revanchists in parliament, and the loud voices of those with anti-Turkish and anti-Azerbaijani positions do not provide grounds for optimism. What does this trend promise? I ask this especially in the sense of the obligations Armenia must fulfill before signing a peace treaty with Azerbaijan.
– Unfortunately, many in Azerbaijan currently think that Pashinyan is a pro-Western politician who does not have serious ties with Russia, meaning he is not trusted by the Kremlin. This is not the case. Yes, he pursues a pro-Western policy on the surface, and I will say openly that this also benefits Russia. It benefits Russia because, through its “pro-Western” policy, Armenia significantly dampens potential pressure from the West, does not change its constitution, and does not sign a peace treaty. It does not fulfill Azerbaijan’s legitimate demand. In fact, what Russia needed was, for example, for Azerbaijan to open the railway so that Russia could send its goods to Armenia, keeping Armenia more economically dependent on Russia. It has achieved this to a certain extent. Therefore, the “no war, no peace” option currently fully satisfies Russia, and Pashinyan knows this. The recent elections and their results also served the purpose of giving Pashinyan a perfect excuse to avoid a referendum. They are playing very skillfully. Look, the trade turnover of small Armenia with Russia is three times higher than ours. If, for example, Kocharyan were in power there, or if Samvel Karapetyan had come to power, how could Armenia buy goods under sanctions from Western countries and sell them to Russia? Pashinyan is still useful to Russia; when he is no longer useful, they will remove him from power very easily. Pashinyan knows this too. Russia also played a major role in Pashinyan coming to power. We have seen how Serzh Sargsyan was removed from power and the position Russia took in those processes. I recently said in one of my statements that we must talk to Russia to sign the final peace treaty. Russia must give Armenia permission to sign a peace treaty. Of course, some talk about the Washington declaration, saying that Pashinyan went, met with our President, the peace treaty was initialed, and then they signed a joint declaration.
– It will be one year on August 8…
– Yes. I have always said openly that it also happened with the permission of Russia and Putin. Because Putin needs Trump, who has a strong position in America and is very influential, to be in power. Because Trump does not sell weapons to Ukraine today. He discredits NATO and Western values, brings China closer to Russia, and started a war with Iran to distract from the Ukraine war. You saw that last time he even declared that he would license the production of “Patriot” missiles in Ukraine, but he still backed away.
– These are controversial ideas, but also interesting…
– It wasn’t the final peace treaty anyway. But Trump receiving a Nobel Prize could have allowed him to help Russia more. As Trump’s influence wanes, pressure from Congress increases for him to provide more serious help to Ukraine and also to impose sanctions on Russia.
– But there is also the fact that Russia is not at all satisfied with the Zangezur corridor – the TRIPP route…
– When you say they are not satisfied, if Russia does not give its consent, Trump will never come and build that road in Zangezur. Look, apart from talk, no serious steps have been taken in a year. They only created a joint fund with Armenia.
– But they have increased the funds significantly…
– I read in the press that supposedly nearly 430 million in funds have been paid there. These are all meaningless things on paper. It would have been possible to start the construction of the corridor and even build a large part of it within a year. I believe that these things will drag on, I tell you openly. In that respect, I always take a more realistic position regarding these issues. I said at the time: it would be better to sign a four-party peace treaty in the region with the participation of Turkey and Russia, like the Treaty of Kars. That would also be a greater guarantee for peace.
– What about the USA?
– The USA is a powerful state, but it is very far from Azerbaijan. In my opinion, unless major geopolitical changes occur, say, some major processes within Russia, and unless there are major changes in the region, I find it unlikely that the TRIPP project will be realized under current conditions.
– Do you have doubts to that extent?
– Yes. That is, Trump will not put one stone on top of another there without Putin’s permission. Why did Trump start a war with Iran? Let’s speak openly. To distract the attention of the international community and the American public from the Ukraine war. Because there was great pressure on Trump from within regarding the Ukraine issue. Now what does Trump say? He says those missiles are needed by us, we are fighting Iran in the Gulf, we cannot give those weapons to anyone, etc. The situation is like this, he is bombing Iran, and he is also getting serious support from the Jewish lobby in America for this. On the other hand, it was precisely because of Trump that China and Iran became closer to Russia. Secondly, this created certain contradictions between America and its main allies. Actually, everyone sees this, they just don’t talk about this topic, especially politicians and statesmen. In that respect, I believe that without Russia’s blessing, that road will not be built here, the Zangezur corridor will not be opened. Russia is not that interested in the opening of the Zangezur corridor. Goods are already being transported between Iran and Russia via Azerbaijan. Also, goods are transported across the Caspian Sea, and now the Rasht-Astara railway line will be built, after which goods will start to be transported directly by rail as well. Therefore, let’s be open, the Zangezur corridor is not that important for Russia.
– But it is of extraordinary importance for Azerbaijan…
– Yes, it is very important for Azerbaijan and the Turkic world. That is why I said that we need to talk to Russia. That is, if Russia puts pressure on Armenia, Armenia will go to a referendum and remove the reference to the act of independence in the Armenian Constitution from the basic law. Russia’s current referendum demand from Armenia is so that Armenia can tell the West that Russia is planning something, so one cannot go to a referendum. If we don’t have serious pressure, the “no war, no peace” situation will remain. As long as there is no peace, the regional states’ dependence on Russia remains, and it is always possible to reignite the conflict in the region. As long as there is no peace, we spend large amounts of money on armaments. Whereas those funds could be spent on improving the country’s socio-economic situation, developing our economy, and creating new jobs. Secondly, you know, until there is peace, investors are afraid, they don’t come to the country, they don’t invest, they don’t bring new technology. These are very important factors. We need peace.
– Qudrat bey, could it be that the Americans build the Trump corridor and the Russian soldiers-border guards at that border just stay in their places and the responsibility for security is entrusted to Russia, that is, a balance is created?
– The USA and Russia must agree on this among themselves. Without Russia’s consent, Iran will also object, and America will not do any work there, I want to note this. We have always seen that Iran has, to a certain extent, coordinated its policy in the region with Russia and has always taken Russia’s position into account.
– Moreover, we will have a bridge with Iran, the Aghband-Kalala bridge…
– Yes, that exists too, but Iran will not hinder this if Russia agrees. In that respect, if Trump really wants the road to be opened, he must sit down and talk with Putin, reach an agreement, and we must also talk to Russia so that Russia agrees to this, or rather, gives some permission to Armenia.
– Our head of state has repeatedly stated that the Zangezur corridor will be opened, that is, there is no alternative to this. The head of state is undoubtedly more informed than all of us, otherwise he wouldn’t say it with such certainty, right?
– Every Azerbaijani believes that the corridor will be opened someday. But it could be opened after 10, 15, 20 years, or after 5 years. The question is, when will the construction of this road begin?
– Executing construction over a 42-kilometer distance may not take that long. Azerbaijan finished work on a distance several times longer in a short time, the Turkish side has also started work…
– If Turkey opens the road with Armenia and connects its railway line with Armenia, the interest in TRIPP will decrease even more. Therefore, it seems to me that Azerbaijan must talk seriously with its partners and we must increase pressure on Armenia. We must also talk seriously with the United States of America, is your goal to open the road, or to reduce pressure on Armenia, to maintain the existing status quo as before? In general, I believe that Azerbaijan should close all roads to Armenia again, cut off all ties. Also, Turkey should not open railway lines and highways with Armenia. Before the election, we were selling fuel to Armenia to support Pashinyan, who was conducting the peace process. We opened the railway line and tell Russia, transport whatever you want to Armenia. In that respect, we did this without achieving the goal – without achieving peace. At that time, I was calling on Turkey to open the roads with Armenia, and I considered it possible for us to abandon the constitutional change demand and sign a peace treaty with Armenia so that Pashinyan would win the election.
– Does it turn out that the one making the revanchist deputies speak in the Armenian parliament is also Pashinyan’s position?
– Pashinyan’s playing games is obvious, it seems they have divided the roles among themselves, pro-Westerners, pro-Russians. But all of them are pro-Russian. Who can invest in Armenia? Who has the money? The money is in Western countries. Who else will invest?
– In recent days, we have also observed Azerbaijan’s warnings to Armenia. The Foreign Ministry’s statement after the recent mine explosion in Aghdara, at the same time the President’s aide Hikmat Hajiyev reminding the Turkish media of Yerevan’s “homework” regarding the necessity of changing the Armenian Constitution, what Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said after the meeting with the OSCE chairman regarding the peace treaty, all these reveal official Baku’s intention to show Armenia its place. Do you agree?
– I believe that Azerbaijan should set a concrete time before Armenia, that if the holding of the referendum is not announced by this time, all ties will be severed. We must also ask Turkey not to open the Gyumri road with Armenia. Now construction has already begun in Turkey in the direction of opening that road. Or there is another option, to disrupt all their plans, Azerbaijan withdraws from the demand to change the constitution. This would put Russia, Armenia, and the USA in a difficult situation. But does this fully meet our geopolitical interests? Wouldn’t this lead to a military coup in Armenia, to major provocations in the region?
– But the President has declared that even if a peace treaty is signed, if the Armenian Constitution is not changed, this treaty will have no meaning…
– I am saying that we must sign peace with the consent and participation of Russia and Turkey so that stability in the region is sustainable. What does Armenia need? It buys cheap oil from us. Its goods are transported. With this trend, borders with Turkey are also opening, without signing a peace treaty. Do we have any other pressure mechanism left? Therefore, I believe that either we must withdraw from our demand for constitutional change, or we must close all roads again, and stop selling them fuel. Azerbaijan must set a concrete deadline and demand, for example, a new government has been formed, announce the referendum! That’s it. Otherwise, they will drag this situation out…