Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is No Longer on the Priority List for the Azerbaijanis

• 01.15.2015, 16:33
•  Region,  World,  Armenia,  NKR,  Analytics

“I think the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should get a just solution.  For example, ten years ago the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was number one priority for the Azerbaijani society, but now it does not occupy even the 10^th place on the priority list. The policies conducted by the government on the matter are just a show-business and only non-serious programs are shown on the TV. All these made our society alien to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.”-, united opposition candidate, Azerbaijani historian Jamil Hasan Ali, expressed such an opinion about the Azerbaijanis’ perception on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

 Really, is the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the priority list for the Azerbaijanis?

According to the propaganda of the Azerbaijani government, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has a vital importance for the Azerbaijani society. If this is the case, why the Azerbaijani society, who is that much interested in this problem, was completely indifferent to the opinion of the representative of the opposition, even more, the representative of the united opposition? 

Not long ago the first candidate of the united opposition, "National Council" of Democratic forces, screenwriter Rustam Ibrahimbeyov, in his statements spoke about the friendship of nations and elimination of hostility against the Armenians. For example, in his interview given to the Russian “Rosbalt” news agency, Ibrahimbeyov particularly mentioned:

“I have no doubt that the Armenian nation is not our enemy as they are the victims of tragedy as much as the Azerbaijani nation is.  From both countries there are deported people and as long as this is an interstate conflict, there are many actors involved in it.  Men are recruited to the army and they are to do their duty. I am not against doing one’s duties. The more important things are that the books are not set to fire, that we do not consider each other enemies forever. Azerbaijan wants to get Karabakh back, but it should also take into consideration the fact that Karabakh does not mean a pure land but also population, that lives there and who are mostly Armenians. We think that the former and the present residents of Nagorno-Karabakh are Azerbaijani citizens and consequently they have all the rights as the residents of other regions in Azerbaijan. How they can be considered people of other quality. I think it is a big mistake to incite hatred against them.   If we do not build human relationship for the future now, then it will be difficult to get back what we have already lost.”

No doubt, such kind of position, not to treat the Armenians as enemies, was a new phenomenon in the political reality of Azerbaijan, especially in the case, when such kind of statement is made by the united opposition leader.  At the same time there are certain factors that give a reason to ponder. First of all, it is worth to mention that the main forces included in the National Council coalition,“Azerbaijani Democratic Front” and “Musavat” parties, are considered the ones, who have a radical position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It is enough to mention that Abulfaz Elchibey stands as an ideological figure for “Azerbaijani Democratic Front” party.  Abulfaz Elchibey is declared as Ataturk’s soldier and is known for his racist rhetoric. For example, in his "Thoughts about the unification of Azerbaijan" he, addressing a guy named Yaghmur, wrote:

"Today you have  ​​become a half year old. I made ​​my testament and to be remembered I put my photo on it. Always remember my legacy:

Be a good Turk. Remember that communism is our enemy.

Jews are hidden enemies of all the nations.

Russians, Chinese, Iranians, Greeks are our old enemies.

Bulgarians, Germans, Italians are our new enemies. 

Japanese, Afghans, Americans are our future enemies.

Armenians, Kurds, Lezghins, Circassians, Gypsies are our domestic enemies.

Now you see how many enemies we have. Be prepared to hit. Let Allah be your guardian.”

It is worth also to mention, that the government managed to gather incriminating evidence against Ibrahimbekov initiating a criminal case against him, at the same time accusing him in “loving the Armenians.” Ibrahimbekov’s fight to be registered as a president candidate ended unsuccessfully. Azerbaijani Central Electoral Commission refused his request. The refusal was explained by Ibrahimbekov’s dual citizenship: he was a citizen of Russia and Azerbaijan.

 After long discussions “National Council” came to the consensus and presented the candidacy of a historian Jamil Hasan Ali. The latter in his interview to the “Voice of America” stated that he is going to move forward by the path of Rasulzadei and Elchibey.

“The path chosen by Rasulzadei and Elchibey is connected to our national destiny. It is the path to our national independence, democracy, territorial integrity and sovereignty. Mehmet Emin Rasulazade and his fellow soldiers were the founders of the declaration of independence of the first Republic of Azerbaijan on May 28, 1918. In 1991 Azerbaijan obtained its independence due to the long struggle of the “Popular Front” founded by Elchibey."

Now the opposition camp actively supports Jamil Hasan Ali, who professes the ideas of Elchibey about pan-Turkism. It is also noteworthy to mention that Rustam Ibrahimbekov was the first to speak for the nomination of Hasan Ali. In fact, the individuals having diametrically opposite positions on the "most important" issue of the Karabakh conflict were nominated from the same camp and enjoyed the sympathy of the opposition.

Isn’t such kind of phenomenon strange in the political, social life of the country, were according to Aliyev, Karabakh conflict has a “vital and primary” importance. The phenomena presented in the pre-election developments and the society’s reaction to them proves that such kind of groundless statements are the consequence of state propaganda. In reality, if the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was in the list of the most important issues, the opposition’s and government’s position on that issue would be a topic of the wide society debate, but that is not the case at all.  Moreover the Azerbaijani society shows accented indifference to the political approaches toward the “most important” issue.

Thus, in the upcoming elections the Karabakh issue once again will be used as a tool by the political parties to accuse each other in various issues. The society, in its turn, got tired of such kind of bargaining on the issue and as the united candidate of the opposition rightly mentioned “at present Nagorno-Karabakh problem does not occupy even the 10^th place on the propriety list for the Azerbaijani society.”

By Tatevik Hayrapetyan