Mikhail Getsadze on the situation around Karabakh: "Why should we always live in fear?"

The expert of the GHN independent information-analytical agency, Mikhail Getsadze, on the recent events around Nagorno-Karabakh in an interview for a correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza.

- Mikhail Avtandilovich, what was the reason for the resumption of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan, in your opinion?

- The reason is clear to all impartial observers and it even doesn't depend on a subjective view – the continued occupation of internationally recognized Azerbaijani territories by the neighboring state of Armenia. This is the main reason. Though the statement of the fact isn't identical with the fact that Azerbaijan was allegedly to blame for the outbreak of hostilities on April 2nd. The Azerbaijani leadership has repeatedly warned that the continued occupation won't bring good results. When two armies oppose each other, one of them is on foreign land (the occupiers are well aware of this fact, as their troops are deployed far beyond their own state, and even outside of Azerbaijan's territory of Nagorno Karabakh, which was occupied first). The behavior of specific field commanders doesn't always depend on orders by the high-ranking officials from leading offices. Therefore, the arguments that "there is no necessity to fight for Armenia," and "it wouldn't have started" is pure demagoguery.

This is the logic of any war and any occupation. If the occupation and the confrontation between the two armies continue, no one can guarantee peace "on the scene". It cannot be done by Azerbaijan, which is booming as a result of rapid development during the past 15 years. It builds skyscrapers, high-quality roads, improves the well-being of citizens and it isn't going to make war. The war is not necessary for Azerbaijan, as it is one of the most successful post-Soviet states. But the continued occupation is ''a delayed-action bomb''  for the building of statehood, and no one knows when it will detonate.

- Is it possible to defuse this bomb?

- First of all, it is necessary to implement all four UN Security Council resolutions on the peaceful settlement of the conflict. These documents imply the withdrawal of Armenian occupying forces from the Azerbaijani territories. The resolution was supported by all five of the great powers of the UN's founding, otherwise they would have remained projects and wouldn't have become resolutions. And they would be supported de jure, by voting "for" or de facto, without the veto right. The Armenian side doesn't comply with the UN Security Council resolutions, undermining the credibility of the universal international organization. But the non-fulfillment of the Security Council resolutions is not a joke, and it isn't a reason for diplomatic routine or violation of the fundamental basis of international law, which undermines all international efforts towards a peaceful settlement of the conflict.

- International mechanisms, including the OSCE Minsk Group, still cannot positively influence the situation. The Armenian side is not going to carry out the UN resolution.

- We don't know who is to blame in the particular outbreak of hostilities in certain areas, in actual villages at specific altitudes, but the occupation itself creates the conditions for the resumption of a large-scale war. When more powerful arguments than diplomatic phraseology support the matter, then diplomacy becomes powerless however cunning and sophisticated it would be. But diplomacy exists in order not to bring the case to the mentioned more effective arguments, and not to activate the ''delayed-action bomb'', continuing the occupation of foreign lands from decade to decade. Time doesn't heal.

- Who is to blame for the civilians killed in the conflict zone?

- Let's take a look at the map to answer the question. What do we see? There are occupied Azerbaijani territories by Armenian forces – Azerbaijani populated villages on the right side of the line. To the left in most of the occupied regions we see desert areas. There are no civilians because they were expelled by the occupying forces in the course of ethnic cleansing. There are only military units of the occupying troops.

I think that this disposition answers your question. Thus, Azerbaijani civilians suffer doubly: as refugees, and people living near the line of occupation, which is far from the areas that were traditionally inhabited by the Armenian population of Azerbaijan.

- Is there a peaceful way out of this situation?

- There are no hopeless situations in politics. But if we speak about a peaceful solution, official Baku has repeatedly offered a clear plan ­– de-occupation, the return of refugees of all nationalities, respect for human rights and freedoms regardless of ethnic origin on the basis of the highest European and world standards. Naturally, Azerbaijan meant the international guarantees of these rights.

It is a chance for Armenia to join regional projects that determine the future of the region, creating conditions for the prosperity of its own people, peaceful co-existence with its neighbor, the opening of all communications and, above all, the liberation from fear – the "sword of Damocles", which will hang until the occupation of foreign lands continues. Why should they live in fear, chasing historical chimeras,when you can openly and joyfully look at a peaceful and prosperous future?