Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 4 / Trend T. Hajiyev /
The attempts made by the Iranian side to interfere in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan are dark spots in the relations between the two neighboring countries, Deputy Chairman of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party Ali Ahmedov said.
"One of the priorities and the exclusive values of the policy pursued by the Republic of Azerbaijan is that we do not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. We think it unacceptable to interfere in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan," he said in an interview with Trend.
He said that Azerbaijan has become strong, basing on strong fundamentals. The interference of various forces in domestic affairs is simply impossible." Today, Azerbaijan is implementing policy aimed solely at protecting the interests of the Azerbaijani people. No one has either the opportunity or the potential to prevent this process," he said.
Sharply condemning the actions of the Iranian side, he said that besides good neighborly relations, Azerbaijan and Iran have deep historical roots." The numerous communities of ethnic Azerbaijanis live in Iran - although they are Iranian citizens, they are the Azerbaijanis, our brothers. All this gives the Iranian-Azerbaijani relations special color and meaning. It must be taken into account by the Iranian side. Moreover, Azerbaijan did not make any step in its policy affecting the interests of Iran. The Iranian side must take it into consideration," he said.
He said that attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan, disseminating the appeals that aim to humiliate the country, broadcasting anti-Azerbaijani programs on Iranian television are not typical for Azerbaijani-Iranian historical ties. They are a dark spot in the good neighborly relations." I also think that Iran must openly express its attitude to this incident," he said.
He also recalled that as a result of the ongoing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, more than 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory was occupied." Iran, supposedly standing for protecting [the] Muslim world, provides strong support for Armenia. The activity of the Iranian side in this direction has been recently increased. This is contrary to its position, logic and philosophy [that] it repeatedly officially announced about it," he said.
According to him, he does not want the Iranian side to consider the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict from a religious point of view.
"Not at all, the whole world community and international organizations have recognized Armenia as the side which occupied Azerbaijani territories. And the truth is that Armenia, supported by its supporters, occupied 20 percent of the Azerbaijani territories and still refuses to liberate the occupied territories.
Any support to Armenia, regardless of what or by whom it is provided, in fact, means supporting the aggressive policy of this country at a time when the whole world is fighting against aggression. And moral and material assistance provided by Iran to Armenia, means not only the support to Yerevan - Azerbaijan's enemy, but a support to an aggressor and injustice. I would like the Iranian government to take it into account, while making statements on the principles of democracy and justice across the world," Ahmedov said.
This position of Tehran worries every Azerbaijani citizen and causes conflicting feelings and emotions.
"Azerbaijanis and Azerbaijani citizens expected a quite different attitude from the Iranians and Iran, and I believe they have right for it. At least given the fact that a great community of ethnic Azerbaijanis live in Iran, I think that the Iranian government's support to Armenia - the country, pursing aggressive policy against Azerbaijan - is unacceptable. In this regard, we strongly condemn Iran's attempts to interfere in Azerbaijan's internal affairs," Ahmedov said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the United States - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding regions.
"Iran-Azerbaijan interparliamentary friendship groups function both in Azerbaijan, and in Iran. It would be good if they met and discussed these issues within a month. It is necessary to come to a consensus on preventing the actions that can lead to a deterioration of relations between our countries," Ahmedov concluded.