922) Is Armenia Seeking Peace?

The article-interview with Deputy Speaker of Armenian parliament (National Assembly) Vahan Hovanessian, published in Armenia's Russian-language newspaper "Novoye Vremya" ("The New Time"), reveals the true nature of "peaceful intentions" of Armenian government. (The text of the interview is given below.) Of particular interest is the following quote from the Deputy Speaker: "I am proud that in the Karabakh war we killed 25,000 Azeris and only 5,000 Armenians were killed." . . .

Setting aside the speculations over casualties on either side of Karabakh conflict, as well as lack of knowledge thereoff in Mr. Hovanessian's statement, we shall concentrate our attention on important admissions made by this high-ranking Armenian official. Continuing further, "I am proud that my friends and I took part in that war", Mr. Hovanessian not only admits the direct participation of himself and the Republic of Armenia in aggression and occupation of Azerbaijani lands, but also feels pride for the killing and ruining the lives of thousands of innocent people. This is contrary to official policy of the Republic of Armenia, that Karabakh conflict is over so called "right of Karabakh Armenians for self-determination", and the occupied Azerbaijani lands are the territories "captured for buffer zone" or, even worse, "liberated" strictly by Karabakh self-defense forces.

Even more amusing is another statement by Mr. Hovanessian: "Racism has never existed in Armenian society". Reading this, combined with a recent statement by Armenian Deputy Defense Minister that "the murder is characteristic of the entire Azerbaijani nation" (Arminfo), and an infamous quote of the President of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, about the "ethnic incompatibility of Azerbaijanis and Armenians", we shall question Mr. Hovanessian's understanding of the word "racism".

Furthermore, Mr. Hovanessian, who feels pride of killing 25,000 Azerbaijanis, claims: "... we should fight for democratization in Azerbaijan". It shall be reminded to Mr. Hovanessian that the fundamental human right (an element of democracy) is the one which he feels proud to have abused. Especially considering that this number of 25,000 Azerbaijani victims, includes 600+ Azerbaijani women, elderly and children, murdered with extreme brutality in now erased town of Khojaly. The graphic pictures of beheaded elders, blinded children and burned women of Khojaly, massacred by proud Armenian ethnic cleansing "heroes" such as Mr. Hovanessian, seriously doubt his intentions about democracy in Azerbaijan.

In light of this and other similar statements from Armenian government officials, Azerbaijani people highly doubt the sincerity of peaceful intentions expressed by Armenian government. As a representative of Azerbaijani-American community, Azerbaijan Society of America (ASA) calls for attention of international organizations seeking resolution to Karabakh conflict to racist statements of Armenian officials and the policy of aggresssion and ethnic cleansing pursued by Armenian government. Only a just solution to conflict, eliminating the illegal occupation of Azerbaijani lands, ensuring the return of Azerbaijani refugees to their homes while preserving the rights of Azerbaijani citizens of Armenian origin, can contribute to lasting peace and security in the region.

08 August 2006
Baku Today