Dennis Summut: "It is not late for Armenia to make use of economic achievements of Azerbaijan"

-What do you think about the opinion that economic achievements of Azerbaijan are not a heavy argument for Armenia in the resolution of the Karabakh problem?

-It is true that Azerbaijan's economy is strengthening owing to oil revenues. Further success of the Azerbaijani economy will depend on the rational use of oil funds and development of oil sector. I think, the non-oil economic sector should base on knowledge with the use of human potential. In Azerbaijan the population is among the youngest in the region. In other words, the young population has conditions to study to contribute to the further development of the national economy.

Moreover, Azerbaijan may influence the Karabakh conflict settlement by means of its economic strengthening only in case of a regional cooperation. The decision, which the Azerbaijani government will have to make in the near future, is the economic interaction with Armenia, which is a great dilemma. I understand that this is a difficult decision, but this is a decision, which the government should take.

Thus, the simple answer to your question is: "Yes, Azerbaijan can use its potential to support its position in the Karabakh issue". Yet, currently the answer is no, because this is an issue of time.

-Some experts state that it is too late. This means that the largest economic projects with Azerbaijan's participation are being implemented or are close to their implementation and Armenia's participation in these projects is not envisioned.

-This is not true. In this sense, it is not too late. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project is something different. It is not an economic, it is an infrastructural projects, intended for oil transportation by the safest, fastest and most available route.

Great efforts are needed for restoration of regional cooperation. This is what should be and what is on the agenda. There are different ways of achievement of purpose and the topic we are discussing is one of them. I consider it necessary to hold serious discussions on this issue.

-The first meeting of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and newly elected President of Armenia Serzh Saskissyan is to be held soon. What is expected from this meeting?

-I think this will allow two people get acquainted with each other and learn positions of the opposite side. I do not think this will take too long. There is a need to make the negotiation process more flexible to get a chance for success. This does not mean that the sides should give up their principle positions.

-Don't you think that the succession of the political course in Armenia makes a breakthrough in the resolution process impossible?

-I am not the one who does not believe in the resolution of this conflict. I believe that the problem has a solution. In order to find this solution we should look at the problem from several directions, but still it exists and I consider that the two countries should start realizing the positive sides of this decision.

-Some people consider that the problem lies in the origin of the working and former Presidents of Armenia. They said that a politician born in Karabakh and coming to power on the high tide of the Karabakh counteraction can not make any concessions in the Karabakh issue. What do you think about this statement?

-I do not think that this is a problem. It is enough to recall the experience of Northern Ireland.

I do not consider that Karabakh origin of Serzh Sarkissyan proves his inability to see what is good for Armenia and Karabakh, which is a peaceful resolution of the conflict, promoting restoration of the development of the whole region. If the Armenian President sees it, it means his origin, no matter whether he is from Karabakh or Yerevan, is not important. The thing is that Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia see ways out of the situation.

/Day.Az/