Khazar Ibrahim: "Azerbaijan will invest into Nagorno Karabakh in any case as it is an integral part of our country"

- How can you comment on the interview of Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan to Day.Az?

- This is an undoubtedly positive fact that the Armenian side introduces its position to the Azerbaijani readers directly for such communication guarantees that there will further not be the refutation of the words by the Armenian side or their distortion by the Azerbaijani side.

Therefore, the fact that one of the leaders of Armenia gave interview to Day.Az, which is one of the most popular mass medias not only in Azerbaijan but also in the whole South Caucasus region, is rejoicing.

- Let's pass to discussing the statements of Mr.Sargsyan. For example, how would you comment on his statement that the Georgian-Russian conflict in South Ossetia was a serious test for flexibility of the Armenian economy which allowed the Armenian powers to say that the country's economy has become more flexible through the past years?

- First of all, I am not an economist, therefore, it is extremely difficult for me to answer this question in details.

Second, I do not live in Armenia to discuss this topic as a consumer. But there are facts and figures, which demonstrate the serious losses of the Armenian economy caused by the recent military conflict in South Ossetia. By the way, some of these facts and figures were also presented by Mr.Tigran Sargsyan.

And, I think it would be enough to compare the statistics on Armenian economy with $670,000,000 of losses, he pointed out, to reveal the degree of influence of the armed clash in South Ossetia on the overall economic situation in this country.

- How would you comment on Sargsyan's urge to concentrate on the values, which unite us but not on the separating circumstances?

- I am confident that if twenty years ago the political leadership of Armenia thought this way and had no plans for occupying a part of the neighbor country, the common future of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Mr.Sargsyan is speaking of, would have been a fact because all the countries of the region would benefit from the establishment of peace and good neighbor relations in our region.

In this connection I would like to see the practical steps of Armenia in the issue of the fair resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno Karabakh.

Unfortunately, we have not witnessed such steps by the Armenian leadership so far. On the other hand, if Armenia continues the policy of occupation of Azerbaijani lands, it will be impossible to speak of any progress in the establishment of good neighbor relations.

- And what about Sargsyan's confession that Armenia is interested in joining any regional projects?

- Azerbaijan has repeatedly voiced its interest in involvement of Armenia into all regional projects on the official level and in the framework of international events. But, naturally, Armenia's participation in these regional projects is impossible until the fair resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict for no state would ever agree to participate in joint large-scale regional projects with a country, which occupied 20% of its lands.

- In this connection, it would be interesting to hear your attitude to the thesis of President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, which was further refuted. According to him, Azerbaijan should invest into Nagorno Karabakh to demonstrate interest in the welfare of Karabakh and its safe life?

- Azerbaijan will invest in Nagorno Karabakh in any case for it is an integral part of our country. But currently when Nagorno Karabakh is under Armenian occupation, our country can not invest in this region.

After Armenian armed forces leave Nagorno arabakh and peaceful residents return to their homes, Azerbaijan will undoubtedly invest in the restoration of this region. The Azerbaijani leadership will do everything possible for the population of Nagorno Karabakh to feel all advantages of the rapid economic development of our country, we will take definite steps for the accelerated investment into Nagorno Karabakh, for the current development of this region can not be compared with the development of any other region of Azerbaijan.

- Wouldn't it be correct for official Baku to hold direct talks with Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh, attracting them to our country by offering economic gains and demonstrating that we treat them as the citizens of Azerbaijan and not as separatists?

- Naturally, all conditions for economic prosperity will be created for the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh following the restoration of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

As for official dialogue between Azerbaijan and leadership of the Armenian community of Nagorno Karabakh, it is currently impossible in practice, for this is the Republic of Armenia and not the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh who occupied our lands.

/Day.Az/