Jamil HASANLI, doctor of historical sciences, professor
Karabakh: from sovietization to autonomy
Establishment of soviet regime in Armenia on November 29, 1920 made favorable condition for communists to rise up the Karabakh problem again. But Armenians accepted the revolutionary romanticism of “the brotherhood of the peaceful proletariat” only through their standpoints.
N. Narimanov, the chairman of Azrevcom (Azerbaijan revolutionary committee – red.) and people commissar for foreign affairs M. D. Huseynov sent a celebration telegram to the Armenian revolutionary committee on November 30 connected with the establishment of the soviet regime in Armenia. There was a great difference between the text of the telegram and the November 30 dated decision of the local meeting of Political Bureau of CC ACP (Central Committee of Azerbaijan Communist Party (Bolsheviks – red.). There were many contradictory moments also between the famous speech of the chairman of Azrevcom N. Narimanov he made at the splendid meeting of Baku Soviet connected with the establishment of soviet powers in Armenia and the declaration, which was stated by them on December 1, 1920. There was written at the declaration: “Soviet Azerbaijan, helping the struggle of the brother Armenian diligent nation against the dashnak powers, shedding the innocent blood of our friend communists in Armenia and Zangazur, states that any territorial problem can’t be reason of mutual massacre of the neighbor nations of two centuries – Armenians and Muslims from now; territory of Zangazur and Nakhchivan provinces is an inseparable part of Soviet Armenia; diligent habitants of Nagorno Karabakh have a right of self-definition, all military operations in Zangazur will be stopped, and the soldiers of Soviet Azerbaijan will be taken out” (“Communist”, 1920, 2 December). It should be noted again that the text of the declaration of 1 December is contrary to the decisions of CC ACP (b) of 4 and 30 November, because at the meeting of CC ACP on November 4, 1920 when there was discussed the underlined article of the project of Russian-Armenian agreement with participation of I. Stalin and G. Orjonikidze there was decided that “the article about giving Nakhchivan and Zangazur to Armenia is suitable neither by political nor strategic means”. But there was received a decision about giving Zangazur to Armenia on the contrary to this decision, related with the victory of soviet powers in Armenia at the meeting of CC ACP (b) of 30 November. Nakhchivan problem wasn’t touched at the decision of 30 November. It seems because of this B. Legran talked about entering of Zangazur to Armenia among the underlined three territories as the only recognized fact by Russia. But we see that at the declaration that was based on the decision of November 30 and said by N. Narimanov, Nakhchivan was also given to Armenia.
Text of the declaration, which was published at Baku press, was falsified by G. Orjonikidze until it was on the newspaper. He wrote in his telegram to B. Legran and G. Chicherin on December 1: “Azerbaijan answered and gave Nakhchivan, Zangazur and Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia”. He also sent the telegram to V. I. Lenin and I. V. Stalin on December 2.
It was written there: “Azerbaijan declared giving Nakhchivan, Zangazur and Nagorno Karabakh to Soviet Armenia”. This “happy news was published at “Truth” (“Truth”, 4 December, 1920). A question appears: G. Orjonikidze wasn’t inside this work completely or did he make this mistake himself? G. Orjonikidze talked with A. M. Nazaretyan after establishment of soviet regime in Dilijan. And the question is given as at the declaration of N. Narimanov. G. Orjonikidze also said the followings: “There was held a splendid meeting of Soviet in Baku today where N. Narimanov made a declaration of Azerbaijani government noting that there wouldn’t be any border between Soviet Armenia and Azerbaijan, beginning from that day territories of Zangazur and Nakhchivan provinces would be inseparable part of Soviet Armenia, Armenian habitants of Nagorno Karabakh would have the right of self-definition. Richness of Azerbaijan – oil and kerosene is property of both the union republics”. Becoming excited from this information, A. M. Nazaretyan cried: “Bravo, Azerbaijanis!” This is how the declaration of the chairman of Azrevcom N. Narimanov of 1 December 1920 had “light” amendment by the Bolsheviks. At the newspapers that were published in Baku – “Communist” (02.12.1920) and “Baku worker” (03.12.1920) there was written about “the right for self-definition” of the peasants of Nagorno Karabakh, and on the newspaper “Communist” (07.12.1920) in Armenia there was written about “recognition of Nagorno Karabakh as a part of Armenian Socialist Republic”. Such rough falsification of the text of the declaration made N. Narimanov think strongly. He offered the people commissar for foreign affairs M. D. Huseynov, being in Tiflis in June, 1921, to rise up his view about Nagorno Karabakh at the Caucasus Bureau: “If they base on my declaration, say them that there was written the followings: Nagorno Karabakh has a right of independent self-definition”.
(to be continued)
“Strengthening of victory” for Armenians
Armenia, occupying Nagorno Karabakh (NK) and seven regions around it in the end of the eighties beginning of the nineties of the previous century, keeps under control more than 1/5 part of the territory of Azerbaijan.
And not only keeps these areas under control, but also destroys, fires, annihilates absolutely everything: ecology of the region, natural richness, historical, cultural, architectural memorials, private and communal buildings and objects, concretely, the whole infrastructure. But the Armenian side doesn’t calm with this. At the present time regular company of changing of names of places, habituated points not only in Armenia, NK, but also other Azerbaijani territories under occupation is being continued. The impudence is at such high level that they changed names of even the regional centers where aren’t included into administrative structure of the previous Nagorno Karabakh Autonomic Province. And so, Lachin region was renamed to Kashatag, the regional center of Lachin to Berdzor, Aghdam to Tigranakert, Zangilan to Kovsakan, Kalbajar to Karvasar e. t. c. Armenia firstly pays attention to the problem of settling at the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, because it considers exactly the settling as the main provision of appropriation of the lands of Azerbaijan. And this is illegal activity of the country-occupier contrary to the whole international position and it is being realized deliberately, at the state level, purposely and regularly. Of course, the official Erevan tries to hide its direct participation at the projects about settling, but this usually doesn’t have a lucky end. It is known that beginning from 2000, a special commission works actively on the realization of the wide-scaled program under the effective name “Returning to Artsakh”, which is organized by high-rank officials of Armenia and also the public organization “Erkir”. Beginning from that time, the Institution over cases of refugees and immigration was involved to realization of the underlined program. In December 2003 the premier-minister of Armenia Andranik Margaryan officially stated that the problem of settling the Armenian population at the territory of Nagorno Karabakh is primary for the leadership of Armenia. According to some information, the main sponsors of the illegal “operation of settling” and building works in these territories are “Armenian Fund of Studying Western America” organization, “Fund of Khayastan” and Soviet of Armenian Eparchy of Tegeran. It is known that only in 2004 400 thousand dollars were given to realization of the program “Returning to Artsakh” and construction of nearly 90 buildings at the occupied territories of Azerbaijan by foreign funds.
During the period between 1994 and today Armenia, using all methods including the violent, shamelessly continued settling at the Azerbaijani territories occupied by them, reaching the settling of thousand Armenian families here which was reflected at commentaries of the Committee over refugees of the USA. According to the underlined information, Armenia pays special attention to settling of Shusha, Lachin and Kalbajar regions. Armenians are being settled also at the villages of Agdam, Gubadli, Jabrayil, Zangilan regions. According to the plan, Armenia intended to supply the number of inhabitants at the occupied territories to 300 thousand people till 2010 and so, tries to give loans, credits to the refugees and help them by other means. It is also known that for the purpose of increasing the settling and preventing flowing of the population from NK, the leadership made a rule about that each family, coming to live permanently at the occupied territories, is reimbursed 15, soldiers 10 thousand dollars. By the way, on the contrary to increasing of settling at the occupied territories, there were made hard sanctions against the people leaving there. So, according to some information, there is a rule about that the families who leave the underlined places have to pay duty around 15 thousand, draftees 10 thousand USA dollars. Besides the settling, Armenia, as it was mentioned below, is busy for illegal construction of churches and other buildings there at the state level, annihilation, falsification and armenization of everything belonging to Azerbaijanis and all Muslims.
It should be noted that the migrants are basically from Armenia, but there are also foreign Armenians. For example, recently the site of the Armenian radio service “Independence” demonstrated the photo of Zangilan region of Azerbaijan where was under occupation of Armenian armed groups. Besides, there is some information about those families from Syria and Armenia settle at the occupied region too. It is seen half-destroyed houses of Azerbaijani villages and farms of the immigrated people at the photo. The Armenian families, settling here from Near East, state that they are agree stay at Zangilan for the productive land and mild climate even out of the support of the Armenian leadership.
And they consider this settling process as “strengthening of the victory”. By the way, the tireless “orator” of the armenianism, famous American Armenian Alexander Mikaelyan made a speech similar to “the idea of strengthening the victory”. We haven’t to spend time for the whole speech of the Armenian man, but the “ideas” of Mikaelyan that were published at the famous provocative site voskanapat.info, his article “How to strengthen victory” are so similar with the position, views and logic of the leadership of Armenia that we, talking about his “prophetical advices” addressed to the state’s top and all Armenians, easily imitate it to the similar bywords of the command of Sarkisyan.
So, what does Mikaelyan write about?
“I want to share my ideas with the voskanapatians, which, I guess, will be supported. I mean the settling at Artsakh – the important direction of our work that the effectiveness of attempts of both Armenia and NKR make us wish for the best”, – his underlined article starts so. Then, he starts to fear from the lucky steps of the Azerbaijan side at raising a question about the illegal settling at the occupied territories of Azerbaijan by Armenia: “At that time Azerbaijan, perfectly understanding the persistence of the demographical changes which will cause the settling of the local population of Artsakh there, achieved the discussion of the politics of the settling at the territories until its realization. Armenia, not doing anything for realization of the programs that it had been accused for (it just can’t do this), at first has to escape from these accuses. We are made to prove the non-existence of common-national program of settling at NKR which our nation’s existence depends on!” This bad-bustling man is so involved into his famous “idea” that betrays himself and the whole Armenian side: “… which will cause the settling of the local population of Artsakh there…”. And a substantial question appears here: if “Artsakh” is “the native land of Armenian population”, that is their favorite slogan, then how can we understand the forcible deportation of the “local” people there?
Mikaelyan, putting forward his “idea” about organization of committees over “gathering money”, “great mobilized-propagandist effect”, “huge patriotic energy”, “restore of agriculture of NKR”, “revival of Shusha”, by one word, for “strengthening the victory”, uses his real Armenian slander: “Victory over the aggressor made for us possibility of revival that we had been waiting for a long time, and we have to use it rationally! Artsakh was freed not only from the slavery of the Turkish, but also their control”. Poking into eyes the temporary superiority of Armenia thanks to its “elder brother”, this bad writer, representative of the aggressor-country, shamelessly glues the tally of the aggressor to Azerbaijan that 1/5 part of territories was occupied by Armenia, and then demonstrates the highest level of his infamy: “Artsakh was freed not only from the slavery of the Turkish, but also their control”. No, you contrive, miserable bewildered (as you know this “patriot” run to the USA in 1991 leaving his “lovely” Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh – G.Z.), at first, this is Nagorno Karabakh, but not Artsakh. Secondly, it was never under slavery of the Turkish and this is the Azerbaijani land. Thirdly, the Turkish (Azerbaijanis – G.Z.) are local habitants of the region, and the word “control” is considered exactly to you, Armenians, who were moved here under patronage of Russian Empery in the XIX-XX centuries. Mikaelyan also suggests to create a fund that would be busy for construction of buildings, little and medium plants in NK and give credits bearing no interest to Armenians for initial needs (agricultural equipments, plant inventories e. t. c.), and make concessions for large families.
Remaining faithful to the traditional Armenian especially begging, Mikaelian also offers a way to raise funds for the Foundation and writes: “The Armenians of the order of tens of millions, and if each of us will make in settlement of Karabakh Foundation for a dollar a month, the total amount of contributions in one year will be 120 million!” You see, as in fact they soared in the way of settlement of Azerbaijani lands!
Concretely, Armenia tries to settle at the occupied territories of Azerbaijan illegally and then appropriate them by the means of its liar patriots whose sample is A. Mikaelyan basing on their historical practice. And they call it as “strengthening of victory”, yes, but this is only “strengthening for Armenians” which will be never realized.
G. ZEYNALOGLU,
“Voice of Karabakh”
Of course, the war is renewed
if Armenia will continue its jugglery
18 years passed from the beginning of the lengthening and absolutely unlucky negotiation process over regulation of Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict by means of Minsk Group (MG) of the OSCE.
During this period “attempts” of the underlined institution including some other international organizations for regulation of the problem were just imitations. It is explained by vain activity (or inactivity) of the below-mentioned structures, and double-standard approach to the countries of the conflict, and loyalty of the leading states of the world to the problem, and being indulgent to the country-occupier permanently. The most important reason of non-solution of the conflict is, unconditionally, indefinite position of Armenia arising from the permanent greediness for invading other’s lands.
As it has been clear to the whole world community for a long time, as the result of the separatist Armenian “actions” over invasion of lands of Azerbaijan Armenia occupied more than 1/5 part of the territories of the neighbor country beginning from the end of the eighties of the previous century and still keeps those regions under its control. From 1992 till the present time MG OSCE, as it was underlined below, is as if busy for regulation of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict that was created by Armenia, and there wasn’t any bit change over positive direction during the past 18 years. Why? You know, the disputed countries, also the international organizations spent a lot of methods, energy, nerve, except of the great economical and social-communal-political lost of Azerbaijan and its population during all this time. There are many reasons and we had wrote about them repeatedly, but we have to write and talk about them again and again until they are removed.
So, first and the most important reason, which we touched below, is the indefinite politics of the country-occupier Armenia, shamelessly ignoring all norms of the international law, decisions and resolutions of the international organizations connected with the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. Armenia, occupying 20 percent of the territory of Azerbaijan – Nagorno Karabakh (NK) and seven regions around it several years ago, demonstrates its finicality, tries to lengthen the negotiation process (and they achieve it) until the famous “toilet comedy” of R. Kocharyan during the meeting of presidents in Rambui (France) in 2006. Natural richness, historical, agricultural, cultural, religious monuments, private and common buildings, communication constructions of the occupied region are annihilated and destroyed purposely, regularly, stubbornly by Armenians. And besides all these, the Armenian side is busy for the program of settling at the occupied zones, changing of historical names of the Azerbaijani habituated points. The official Erevan has imitated its interest in peaceful and justly regulation of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict at the negotiations for many years, indeed seeking the aim of keeping the results of its aggression and to strengthen them legally as possible. The second reason is as important as the first – inability, modesty, inefficiency of the international organizations over solution of the problem, double-standard approach to the countries of the conflict and identification of the occupier with the suffering country. There were adopted 4 resolutions (822, 853, 874, 884) by Council of Safety of United Nations (CS UN) related with the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict in 1993, and then there were adopted many resolutions and documents at the level of UN, EC, PAEC and other leading international organizations, there were realized several monitorings by MG at the occupied zone. But what a pity that there isn’t the corresponding mechanism of their realization, and secondly, Armenia, as we noted below, ignores all these documents baselessly. The third reason is that the present leadership of Armenia, as the former, is far from the peaceful and justly regulation of the underlined conflict, and it is naturally, because Robert Kocharyan and Serj Sarkisyan are separatists, terrorists themselves, both of them were leading “the Armenians’ actions” over invasion of NK from Azerbaijan, and that’s why it is just credulity to wait for anything sensible from them.
The fourth reason – loyalty of the world community to the happenings in the region or advantage of economical and political interests of the world’s leader states over being interested in the peace and stability at the underlined point. For example, Russia, one of co-chairs of MG OSCE, always arms Armenia and supports it by economical means, the USA every year gives tens of billions dollars to the country-occupier and even to the illegal separatist regime of Nagorno Karabakh. And this is anti-azerbaijani appearance as it was affirmed so in Military doctrine of the republic adopted in June of the previous year: “Each political, military, economical and other support to the Republic of Armenia and the separatist regime that was established by them at the occupied territories of Azerbaijan aiming the official recognition of the results of the occupation, are estimated as the activities against Azerbaijan Republic”.
Much to my regret, it wasn’t possible to achieve any progress in peaceful regulation of Karabakh conflict in 2010 too. Against the background of the increasing anti-Azerbaijan propaganda of Armenians, incessant instigating indecency of Armenian armed groups in the touch line and other alike juggleries of Armenia display the powerlessness of the peaceful solution of the conflict. On the other side, Azerbaijan which still prefers the peaceful solution of the conflict, besides the sentences which are written at its Military doctrine “has a right to free its occupied territories and restore its territorial integrity and sovereignty using all necessary ways including the military power”.
And so, the war is repeated if Armenia will continue its indefinite politics and demonstrating its games.
G. JABRAYILLI,
“Voice of Karabakh”
Bloody night,
the way carrying to the day of liberty and independence
21th anniversary of the January night of 1990 appeared when “peaceful” army before the fall of Soviet Union, disloyally invading Baku and several regions of Azerbaijan, committed genocide of the innocent Azerbaijani nation.
This violent act against the mankind was done by the leadership of the Soviet empery, by the first and last president of USSR, the executioner of the Azerbaijani nation Michael Gorbachev aiming to repress the struggle of the nation for democracy and national liberty, abasing and insulting honor of the nation. And everything started for the reason of Armenians and separatist-aggressive politics of Armenia. So, exactly Armenia started the famous “Armenian movement” for appropriation of the part of the territory of Azerbaijan – Nagorno Karabakh (NK) and other lands. As the result of the war started by Armenia, hundred thousands of Azerbaijanis were driven out of their ancient settlements. More than one billion people were refugees and IDPs, besides, these people were subjects to unbelievable tortures, there were many dead, wounded people and all these caused very complicated situation in the capital and all regions of Azerbaijan. Protest actions against the anti-Azerbaijani movements of Armenians and the indifference of the leadership of the USSR to all these, increased the liberation movement of the nation firstly inside the borders of the soviet empery. And the fear of spreading such examples in other regions made Gorbachev, the leader of the USSR use force against the struggle for liberty of the nation. On the other side, there were committed so called “robbery of Armenians” by special bodies of the USSR and there were victims of the Armenian population of the city. And that’s how the scenario of strangling of the freedom movement of the Azerbaijani nation was organized.
And for realization of the scenario, a group of the leading officials, main executioners was commanded to Baku from Moscow – candidate of the members of the Political Bureau of Central Committee of the Communist Party of Soviet Union, chairman of the Soviet Union of the Head Soviet of the USSR Yevgenin Primakov, the secretary of CC Andrey Girenko, the chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Vitaliy Doguzhev, the substitutive chairman of the Federal Safety Bureau (FSB) Philipp Bobkov, the minister for defense Dmitriy Yazov, the minister for internal affairs Vadim Bakatin, the leader of internal army of MIA Yuriy Shatalin.
At the night from 19 January to 20 January of 1990 without initial declaration of extraordinary situation in Baku city and several regions of Azerbaijan, there were brought regular parts of the Soviet Army and Navy about more than 50 thousand people to the accompaniment of the heavy military techniques, helicopters and military ships, and very hard reprisals were inflicted to the peaceful population. The armed attack to Baku was accompanied with the operation of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR, FSB and MIA under the secret name “stroke”. The main role was given to the “Alpha” of special appointment, the “Pennant” and the diversionary group “A” of the FSB, the structure of the army was organized from hasty called “wild soldiers” of the Armenian nationality from Rostov province, Krasnodar and Stavropol lands. The soldiers shot at the people just on the spot with special brutality, realized the planned attacks of tanks to cars full of people, they shot at hospitals, prevented the medical-sanitary personal from helping the wounded. The special composition of the army killed the wounded, they did it with bayonets, they used bullets of Kalashnikov automat of 5.45 mm which not only wounded a man, but also increased the pangs and made their death inevitable.
As the result of the illegal invasion of the army to Baku city and regions of the republic more than 170 persons were killed, 744 persons were wounded, 841 persons were illegally arrested and tens of people missed. 200 houses and flats were robbed and fired, 80 automobiles including first aid cars were squashed, private and common properties about 5637286 Russian rubles were annihilated by the soldiers. There were women, children and the old, also workers of first aid and policemen among the killed.
It should be noted that 82 persons were killed and 20 persons were deadly wounded by the soldiers until the declaration of the extraordinary situation was declared. 21 persons more were killed after the declaration of the extraordinary situation. In the regions where the extraordinary situation wasn’t declared – 8 persons were killed on January 25 in Neftchala and January 26 in Lankaran.
Invasion by the armed groups and realization of the underlined operation was a cruel form of disorder of the position of the Constitution of the USSR and Azerbaijan SSR, also all existing international conventions, acts over human rights, declarations.
Unconditionally, this bloody night is tragically for our nation. Besides, it entered to the history as a glorious night, the way leading to liberty and independence.
G. ZEYNALOGLU,
“Voice of Karabakh”
Genrikh MALYUSHKIN:
“Robert Kocharyan was a militant, he was at war in the Nagorno-Karabakh”
An exclusive interview of IA Trend with MG Genrikh Malyushkin, who in 1990- for half a year was the commandant of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan and the deputy commander of the USSR Interior Ministry Central Administration’s troops located in the region. At present, Malyushkin lives in Moscow.
– Mr. Malyushkin, let’s begin from the very beginning. In 1990… You were dispatched to Nagorno-Karabakh. What problems did you face there?
– The point is that the Nagorno-Karabakh region is a sandwich between Armenian and Azerbaijani community… So, we had to ensure the safe transportation of the local people by buses in this territory, accompany them in the case of attacks, as well as numerous herds, which shepherds had brought for the mountainous pastures. There were cases when these pastures were attacked by Armenian fighters. On 21 June 1990, innocent residents of Lachin- the mountainous village of region of Azerbaijan became the victims. A father and a teenage son, who were pasturing the herd, were shot to death by machine guns by the Armenian fighters wearing masks. The killers cut the victims’ ears and tongue and pulled out their eyes. That was inhuman harassment. The forced witness of this terrifying scene was the shepherd’s second son, who was in the shelter at that moment. At that time, Victor Polanichko was the chairman of the Organization Committee. By the way, later he was also shot dead by the Armenian fighters in his car. When we arrived together at the scene of tragedy, it was difficult to explain the relatives of the perished why they were killed in front of their houses during the peace period. After several days, I met with those who committed this act of barbarism. During the checking up of the internal troops in Kalbajar region we had passage places in the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia, I was informed that Armenian fighters drove off big herd from the “October” farm. We decided to force the Armenian fighters, though the authorities of the Vardanis Region of Armenia, to return this herd. I agreed upon the talks with Armenian fighters near the Zod village, preliminarily, through my own channels. While landing, I suddenly observed that over 20 armed people – who were preparing for the shooting, met our helicopter. I decided to go out alone towards the gunmen and the crew remained on board. Introducing myself, I demanded to fetch me to the region’s authorities, whereas they told me that the region authorities would. This representative introduced himself as Valeriy with the title of captain. I understood that I would have to deal with a group of avengers- as they called themselves… They said that they were defending the Armenian divisions from Azerbaijan. However, in fact, no Azerbaijani armed troops were in the border regions of Azerbaijan at that time. There were only militia divisions, whereas the armed formations were placed in the part of Armenia. They were supplied with the weapons, armaments, food and dressed well. Those who arrived from the other countries, for instance mercenaries from the Arab countries, were also among the fighters.
– Were there any Russian soldiers from your division among the victims killed by Armenian militants?
– During my presence in Nagorno-Karabakh region, 30 military soldiers were killed and over 200 were injured. One of them, soldier Sergey Mezenetzev, accompanied the pack to Kalbajar region. Twenty Armenian fighters attached them and fired at them. Three Azerbaijanis died and Mezenetzev was one of them.
Mikhael Gorbachov-the President of the USSR, jointly with the Government, carefully concealed the fact of death of the Russian military by the Armenian fighters in Nagorno-Karabakh and other Azerbaijani regions- attached to his region. I was simply surprised to what extent the Government demonstrated cruelty with respect to its own people.
– It is well-known that Robert Kocharyan, the ex-President of Armenia, was also in war in Nagorno-Karabakh. Do you have any information about that?
– That is a fact. Robert Kocharyan was a militant, who was at war. But the main propagandist of the idea of wreaking vengeance upon the Azerbaijanis was Zori Balayan, an Armenian writer. He wrote many books and one of them he personally presented to me in Stepanakert (Khankendi – Trend’s comment). In that book he described a feat by an Armenian pilot born in Shusha.
– Do you remember what Zori Balayan used to say about Azerbaijanis?
– I remember that very well. He had a genuine zoological hatred for Azerbaijanis. He used to say that it were Azerbaijanis who caused the murder of Armenians by Turks, their eviction from the Ottoman Empire in 1915. They reflected all those events in the entire history and the current situation, and that was confusing. All political figures daring to extend a helping hand to Turkey were condemned. All his books on the subject reflect fury and lust to take revenge on Azerbaijanis for the events that happened in 1915.
– Which side was better prepared for the war, had more bands, aggression initiatives and more armaments?
– Of course, the Armenian troops were better prepared for the war. They had been formed into groups and wore uniform. They had armaments, a part of which they got after sacking our Armenia-based depots. They were supplied with food and the local Armenian authorities strongly supported those bands.
– You spent only half a year in Karabakh. But your sons were with you there, also combating. Could you speak about them?
– They commanded battalions there. We had a plenty of units there – the division of Dzerzhinski in Stepanakert (Khankendi – Trend’s comment) and Garrisons at the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. My sons were in the battalions of the internal forces. Andrey was in the Krasnodar battalion and Sergey in Ivanovsk police battalion. The battalions were replacing each other in Nagorno-Karabakh.
– Who from the Azerbaijan side took part in the combats – militants or people’s volunteer corpses?
– What militants? There were just people’s volunteer corpses. But they also vanished. Only Armenian bands remained.
– Who violated the border most of all?
– Of course, it was Armenians. They violated the border with Azerbaijan every now and then, attempted to get into the local settlements, murdered the people, stole the herds of sheep, etc. One of the gangs of 50 Armenian militants disarmed me on a helicopter, together with the colonel of the interior forces. They wanted to penetrate into the area under our responsibility and I had flied to this region with a special division in a helicopter, after we were informed of the threat. The Armenian militants took refuge in the livestock farm among the civilians. Of course we could not fire as there were civilians who protected the farm from the stealing of the livestock. Then we proposed Armenians to lay down their arms. They came out one by one by throwing away their arms and I set all of them free. But, those in Baku told me that how could I dare to disarm the Armenian militants in the Armenian territory, because I was rebuked by Moscow. However, it was not Armenian, but Azerbaijani territory. I could somehow get away.
– Who told you that the Armenia hired mercenaries for its army?
– When we disarmed them we tried to talk to them, even through an interpreter in Armenian language. But they would not understand anything. It was obvious that they were mercenaries, particularly the Arabs. Most of them did not speak Armenian language at all. As I remember, we were fired on when the experienced Kochelnikov- the head of the crew, flied over the Armenian population. One of the bullets fell to the gasoline tank and if we had not landed, the helicopter would have exploded. We came out of the helicopter with the colonel to see where the hole is and suddenly the colonel was fired. The bullet injured his muscle. We hid under the helicopter and I did the dressing of his wound. Fortunately, I had a medical package. As we could not fly to the border with the helicopter, we returned to the outpost; I changed the helicopter and flied to the border where one of soldiers spoke English. He had a wireless operator and he said that he had just received a phone call saying that General was killed. I was that General, the Armenians thought that they have killed me. But the Armenian militants killed my shift man Merzlikin and 27 people who flied with the representatives of Azerbaijani government, also with the Prosecutor General. This is a well-known tragedy that took place in November 1991, in Karabakh.
– When did you begin to publish your memories about Karabakh?
– About in 1993-1994. They were published in newspapers “Pravda”, “Pravda Rossii”, “Moskovskaya Pravda”, “Shield and sword”, “Krasnaya Zvezda” and “On the military post” journal.
– Taking into consideration the pro-Armenian spirit in the press and one-sided publication of Karabakh conflict, how did you manage to get your work published in the press? After all, you were telling the truth…
– I, as a military man could somehow do it. Gorbachov and his government had a mean attitude towards it. When the strife between Armenians and Azerbaijanis began, none of the members of his government flied to the region. They did not fly to Skinvali and Fargana as well… The orders to impose a curfew were very late, when it was almost impossible to stop a war. But we needed those orders on time, as they would have given us legal basis to arrest the militants, who shed blood in there.
– It turns that due to the inactivity of the Soviet bodies, you yourself decided the destiny of the people – disarm, release, etc?
– Yes, practically it was so because I could not arrest them due to the absence of legal grounds.
– Certainly, you repeatedly talked with the Armenian fighters arrested by you. How did they explain why they took arms? What did they want and what did they achieve?
– I should confess that many of them fought for money. They themselves also did not hide it. They were paid, fed free of charge. Practically, the ideological inspirer of this hostility was the writers -such as Zori Balayan. Exactly, they set the local population and fighters against the Azerbaijanis.
– Although 20 years have passed, the conflict still remains unsettled. In your opinion, how is it possible to settle it? The peace between the Azerbaijanis and Armenians is an abstract understanding after the events that had occurred, or is it possible?
– Hundreds of thousands of innocent people have suffered. The Azerbaijanis were forced to leave their Native Lands. The Azerbaijanis in Nagorno-Karabakh were oppressed. I think that the only way of settling this conflict is the peaceful negotiations. During the summit in the Slavic Square in Moscow on 15 November 2004, I gave a speech on this issue and stated that only peaceful talks can normalize the situation. There is no other way. Otherwise, people will again suffer. Nevertheless, the local Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh was not armed they also became hostages of these fighters – Armenian fighters and mercenaries. The local population sustained provocations. Many provocations were made by the foreign forces in order to establish hostility between the Azerbaijanis and Armenians. By the way, I talked to many heads from both the sides. They supported peaceful settlement of the problem. However, some forces- who were not interested in it urged on continuation of the armed collision.
– Besides Zori Balayan, who displayed special activity in order to further worsen the situation and create war between the Armenians and Azerbaijanis?
– Robert Kocharyan. Yes, exactly him. He was a commander of an armed gang. He headed the detached forces and these events took place exactly under his leadership. I heard much about him and his activities, but I could not meet with him. Even the Armenian fighters committed pogroms against the local Armenian population who helped removal of the internal troops. Home of one Armenian was blown up in Martuni on 14 July 1990. Certain time later, a radio centre in Stepanakert (Khankendi – Trend’s comment), passenger trains were blown up. Later, the Armenian fighters blew up the inter-city bus (Tbilisi-Agdam) which led to the death of 24 passengers.
– What facts can testify availability of equipment with the Armenian fighters?
– I remember how the Upper Askipara village of Azerbaijan’s Gazakh region was fired by the Armenian guns, and we entered the village with armoured personnel to save the peaceful population. It means that, already in 1990, the Armenians had many heavy techniques. The Armenian fighters often attacked and robbed our storehouses and stole our arms. They were armed well, practically everybody had submachine guns. On 29 Feb 1992, the final Soviet and Russian troops were removed from Karabakh.
– Who suffered more from this war?
– You know Azerbaijanis have suffered most from this war. That all happened in front of my eyes, that is why I say facts. I witnessed how the blood of Azerbaijanis, thousands of innocent people, was shed. Hundreds of people were brutally murdered by Armenian militants, hundreds thousand people had to leave their own lands – Nagorno-Karabakh. Therefore, it was very pity for me to see all that. I was worried about Azerbaijanis.
– Do you still have Azerbaijani friends?
– Probably. But for a long period I have not been in Azerbaijan. The last time I visited Baku was in 1991, together with the President of the Federal National Cultural Autonomy (FNCA) of Azerbaijanis in Russia Soyunov Sadikov. With great pleasure, I would like to visit the country again.
– Are you going to write anything more about Karabakh?
– I am publishing the book “Cap of Karabakh, with the support of the FNCA of Azerbaijanis in Russia. The issue of its publication will be decided during the next days.
Editor’s column
Shaky mister Barroso
and his worthless organization
We know that there is in the world a powerful international organization under the name of the European Commission, or as it is often in abbreviated form call, the Eurocommission and the head of this organization is Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso.
At a normal state of affairs, on the basis of mutual obligations of the parties, Azerbaijan has to fulfill its promises taken before this organization, and that, in turn – to render it all possible assistance in the decision of global political and economic problems. And how things work in reality?
In real life, Azerbaijan disciplined carries out its obligations to all European structures. That wish appetite of the West, without hesitation “feeds” it: want oil – please, ask for gas – for God’s sake, as much as necessary, will require soldiers-peacemakers – ask mercy, take… And here is that the opposite side, i.e., the same West though something good done for Azerbaijan – but where really there?! No way! It is enough to run eyes over a “role” of the international public including that Eurocommission in settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict, and all becomes clear. That is for this reason now to Azerbaijan only unsubstantiated support its just cause on the part of any international organization – is as great a gift. However, even that stint.
Take, for example, the question of recognition of the territorial integrity of the republic. And at once, we note that all international organizations, into which membership it has entered, officially recognized it within the limits of territories of the Soviet period. But, alas… The majority from this world shows basically recognition of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is a real cynicism and indifference. That is, they are either generally avoid conversations on this topic, or sound with special vigilance, or their words and business in this matter disperse in completely opposite directions. As here at mister Barroso.
So, being recently in Baku on purpose to catch its consent to the further supports of power resources to Europe, the mister president of Eurocommission, this worthless structure, even a finger about a finger not struck in a question of settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict, declared: “Yesterday at a meeting with President Ilham Aliyev I have noticed that, naturally, EU in the unequivocal form supports the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan”. Well, thank God, finally! But, it turned out it was too early to us to rejoice: so important for the Baku declaration suddenly disappeared from the official website of the organization. And in response to the indignation of the Azerbaijani party from the above-mentioned structures have answered that, supposedly the text of Barroso’s speech has been published in the website even before his visit to Baku. Just some nonsense! What kind of grief-efficiency? And maybe mister president, God forbid, won’t reach to Baku? And then, unless so it is difficult to introduce necessary corrective amendments in “in advance published” text?
Obviously, in the truth shaky mister Barroso and his worthless organization adhere to the pro-Armenian position and a hitch only in it! And however, besides last reason, obvious unsteadiness of Barroso was shown and before: and in the case with the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad, and in the question in connection with Greece, and in the case connected with Georgia…
In general, best of all not to expect anything from similar diplomats and organizations, and themselves to solve their problems.