Orkhan Sattarov, the head of the European Bureau of Vestnik Kavkaza
On February 18th the panel discussion “Stability and Security in the South Caucasus: prospects of German-Azerbaijani relations” devoted to the 21st anniversary of the Khodjaly tragedy took place in the German Parliamentary Society.15 German MPs, German diplomats, political scientists, publicists, journalists, and Azerbaijani guests participated in the event.
The vice-president of Bundestag Edward Osvald performed an introductory speech. “These days Azerbaijan remembers sad pages of its history: war, blood, and occupation,” Osvald noted. “Developments in Khodjaly and the war in Nagorno-Karabakh left deep wounds in the national memory of Azerbaijani people. Destruction of whole families, an exile from the motherland, the occupation of the territories by foreign troops are injuries for Azerbaijan. We know what a difficult situation there is in Azerbaijan, and we hope for complete settlement of this conflict.” Speaking about settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Germany’s role, Osvald stated that the OSCE was dealing with it, where Germany played a big role. The European Union suggests mechanisms of approaching within the program of Eastern Partnership.
He also touched on cooperation between Germany and Azerbaijan. In recent years Azerbaijan has managed to prove that it is a reliable energy partner of Europe and has taken an important place in its strategy of energy security. Osvald hopes that this position of Azerbaijan will improve in the future.
The ambassador of Azerbaijan in Germany, Pavriz Shakhbazov, read the resolution of the Bundestag Petition Committee, which was adopted in 2011 and devoted to the Khodjaly tragedy: “Slaughtering of the Azerbaijani civil population of Khodjaly by Armenian armed groups on February 26, 1992 led to the murder of 613 people. And it must be recognized. Only historic truth can be a foundation for long-term peacemaking. Armenia, which complains about its own genocide, should show an understanding of the problem of Azerbaijani people.”
Regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the ambassador reminded that four resolutions of the UN Security Council requiring withdrawal of the occupational troops hadn’t been fulfilled. In 2009 the European Parliament adopted a similar resolution and Bundestag demanded support of the German federal government with its implementation.
Pavriz Shakhbazov informed the audience, referring to the OSCE report, that Armenians from third countries settled in the occupied territories. It violates the international law. The ambassador also mentioned the planned opening of the reconstructed airport in Khodjaly. He said that such steps confirmed Armenia’s intention to maintain the status quo.
Rainer Stinner, MP from the Party of Free Democrats, urged Europe to provide a clear position on the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and neighboring regions. “We have to be precise: the occupation of Azerbaijani territories, especially seven regions around Nagorno-Karabakh, contradicts the international law,” the MP said. Stinner doubts in effectiveness of the mediation mission by the OSCE Minsk Group with its current structure. “If we look at the Minsk Group’s members, we will see that huge Armenian Diasporas exist in France and the USA, which intensively influence political processes in these countries. As for Russia, I will ask only one provocative question: is Russia interested in settlements of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, considering its regional interests?” he asked and urged Europe to find mechanisms of motivation to settle the conflict for Russia.
The foreign political speaker of Bundestag Philipp Misfelder criticized the prospect of the Khodjzly airport opening because “it would be the line which Armenia shouldn’t cross and would confirm that Armenia wants to freeze the status quo.” Misfelder wants the EU to be an active mediator in settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as the current format of the Minsk Group is very ineffective.
He criticized the prejudged position of German mass media toward Azerbaijan. “I ordered to my scientific service to analyze publications on Azerbaijan in Germany and compare them with publications in other countries. It appeared that we can speak about a German phenomenon,” Misfelder stated. He thinks it is wrong that journalists ignore the strategic aspects of the bilateral relations and exaggerate insignificant moments.
The same view is shared by the well-known German publicist Richard Kissler. “None of post-Soviet countries is blamed by the German mass media like Azerbaijan. I have many times been in Azerbaijan and I can say the authors of such articles absolutely do not culture and traditions of the country,” Kissler summed up.
Johannes Kars, socialist MP, urged the EU, including Germany, to cooperate with Turkey for settlement of regional problems, considering that Azerbaijan and Turkey are strategic allies in the region.
This panel discussion was the first big event organized by the German-Azerbaijani Forum this year. It caused significant interest in the German political environment.
