By Orkhan Sattarov, the head of the European Bureau of Vestnik Kavkaza
Berlin held the third symposium on stability and security in the South Caucasus on February 26, dedicated to the Khojaly tragedy.Many high-ranking politicians attend the symposium every year, it has turned into a fixed German platform for regular talks about regional problems of the South Caucasus. The event, organized by the German-Azerbaijani Forum, Azerbaijani embassy in Germany, SOCAR and the German-Atlantic Society, has been participated ib by about 20 members of the German parliament, many diplomats and economic figures.
Bundestag Vice President Johannes Singhammer, head of the Germany-South Caucasus Friendship Group Karin Strenz, and the head of the German delegation to the OSCE Doris Barnett made speeches. Rainer Lindner, the head of the Eastern Committee of the German Economy, and Hans Eberhard Sleier, the head of the German-Azerbaijani Forum spoke at the meeting too. The Azerbaijani position was voiced by Ambassador to Germany Parviz Shakhbazov, SOCAR Vice President Elshad Nasirov, MP Siyavush Nowruzov. The talks were moderated by Otto Hauser, the honorary chairman of the German-Azerbaijani Forum, an ex-Secretary of State of Germany.
"For over a year, I have had the honour to chair the parliamentary friendship group between Germany and the South Caucasus. It is not an easy task, considering the states united by the group," noted CDP member Karin Sternz.
"Azerbaijan is about the size of Austria, Georgia fits into Bavaria, Armenia is 12 times smaller than Germany. The total population of the countries is about 17 million people, like in our federal land of North Rhine-Westphalia. Why can't so relatively few people peacefully coexist with each other, and why can we not move the process from gridlock?" Karin Sternz wondered, emphasizing the complicated regional problem of the South Caucasus. "Azerbaijan is a proud, free and independent country. And Azerbaijan is rightfully insisting on corresponding, significant support from Europe, if it is oriented towards European values. I and my colleagues from the parliamentary friendship group with the South Caucasus are trying to conduct a regular and intensive dialogue with our colleagues from Azerbaijan. The same concerns our Georgian partners," stated Karin Sternz.
Then the MP described her meetings with Armenian representatives: "I had negotiations with the permanent plenipotentiary representative of Armenia to Germany, who tried "to open my eyes" to the world. It was very unpleasant, because I originate from a system where people make their opinion once. At the end of the meeting, the Armenian diplomat stated: "Frau Sternz, you are obliged to resolve the Karabakh issue." I responded to that: "It is not a problem at all. Return the occupied territories back, and it will be solved." The representative of the ruling party reprimanded the Armenian side for reluctance to have a constructive dialogue: "When President Ilham Aliyev arrives at the Munich Security Conference, and his colleague Sargsyan refuses to negotiate, we have a certain understanding of where we are. And I am confident that we will not resolve the conflict this way in the near future. Numerous meetings are needed, long, scrupulous negotiations."
Karin Sternz complained about the double standards employed by the Council of Europe towards Azerbaijan. The MP noted that Azerbaijan was actively arming itself to prevent a repetition of history. "It is the right position that needs supporting. The country should stay protected. Armenia should not take even one step forward," said the Bundestag member.
The lawmaker reminded that Baku will organize the European Games this year. "I hope that sports will finally be taken as a unifying bridge that has no place for political or geostrategic disputes. And that no one would use the games to boss a country around on democracy and human rights without seeing them.
