Mon 30 November 2009 | 08:00 GMT Text size:

Elin Suleymanov

News.Az interviews Azerbaijan's consul general in Los Angeles, Elin Suleymanov.

What do you expect from Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan’s visit to the United States?

Turkey is among the key allies of the United States, therefore, during the visit the sides will discuss a wide range of issues. Washington is greatly interested in Turkey’s support of US initiatives in Afghanistan and on Iran as well as the Middle East. Of course, we want the visit to result in an increase in efforts to resolve the Karabakh conflict as well as in a more realistic approach to the full integration of the South Caucasus. Moreover, there is a need to demonstrate a strategic approach to the export of Caspian oil and gas and energy security.

Can we expect the visit to speed up the Karabakh settlement process?

I hope Erdogan will raise the issue of the need for the resolution of the Karabakh conflict as soon as possible, as he did in his recent statements. Today, I think, few people doubt that the welfare of Armenia is directly bound to the Karabakh conflict settlement. Attempts to ignore the real problems of the region at the expense of symbolic tactical steps are harmful and have negative implications. Therefore, we can expect that an open exchange of views between our US and Turkish partners will lead to a comprehensive assessment of the situation in the region, especially in the context of their long-term interests. The main element of any analysis is the understanding of the threat posed by the unsettled regional problems.

Have the positions of Turkey and Azerbaijan become more important for official Washington since Barack Obama came to power?

Azerbaijan’s position is reinforced thanks to the pragmatic and balanced policy based on national interests conducted by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. This policy is a continuation of the strategic course laid by national leader Heydar Aliyev, the main priority of which is to strengthen our statehood and raise the welfare of the Azerbaijani people. Moreover, Azerbaijan does not view itself separately from the region, being aware that regional welfare creates favourable conditions for the further development of our country. Therefore, Azerbaijan, which builds its relations on a mutually profitable basis, is a valuable and reliable partner both for the United States and other countries. US President Barack Obama and other senior US officials have already spoken about it. Washington should take steps to implement the plans earlier voiced by President Obama. To attain its goals, Obama’s administration should obtain the support of reliable friends such as Azerbaijan and Turkey.

And finally, do the Turkish and Azerbaijani diasporas in the United States manage to resist the Armenian diaspora there?

The Azerbaijani diaspora has recently stepped up its work. We have witnessed numerous events held by US Azerbaijanis. For example, there is a plan to hold a conference of the US Azerbaijanis Network in Chicago in the near future. Yet I do not want to view the activity of the Azerbaijani diaspora only in terms of confronting the Armenian diaspora. The Azerbaijani community has a wide range of interests from contribution to intercultural dialogue to participation in debates on global energy security. At the same time, it should be noted that the formation and strengthening of the diaspora is a long-term process. Meanwhile, we should not forget that the Armenian diapora is among the most organized ethno-political groups in the United States. Unfortunately, some radical circles within the Armenian diaspora continue to see developments in our region only through a prism of narrow ethnic interests and confrontation. For example, differences between Yerevan and the diaspora and within the diaspora itself over the Turkish-Armenian dialogue turned into an attempt to present the Karabakh issue as a factor uniting Armenians. It means that confrontation with neighbours, in particular, blatant attempts to legitimate ethnic cleansing in Shusha, has become a uniting factor. Anyway, the decisions about the future are taken in the region, not within diaspora circles.

What can you say about the role of Turkey and Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus region in the near future?

Undoubtedly, Azerbaijan is the leading country in the South Caucasus. This position will be strengthened through cooperation with Georgia, Turkey and other partners. In turn, new opportunities are opening for Turkey. Ankara may use this situation to strengthen its positions in the Caucasus and Central Asia. The statements of Turkish leaders prove that Ankara understands Azerbaijan’s role in this regard.

Akper Hasanov
News.Az