Garabagh Armenians' visit not a success

The visit by a delegation of NGO representatives from the self-proclaimed Upper Garabagh Republic to Baku last week with the intention "of establishing contact with the Azerbaijan public" caused mixed responses of the local public, as the group was received only by the head of the President office's socio-political department Mr. Ali Hasanov and the chairman of the "Yeni Nasil" Union of Journalists Mr. Arif Aliyev.

The rest of the public, including political parties, NGOs and public organizations, refused to meet with the "guests".

The intelligentsia, Bakuvians, political parties and various other organizations, not to mention IDPs, unequivocally and categorically condemned such meetings until Azerbaijan's occupied territories are liberated.

Many even went as far as labeling the visit organizers as "traitors" (the Soros Foundation reportedly allocated $30,000 to hold the meetings with Upper Garabagh Armenians in Baku on the initiative of the HCW national committee).

On Friday, on the initiative of an independent political commentator and one of the authors of the Charter of Principles for Liberation of Upper Garabagh Mr. Eldar Namazov, the Garabagh NGO delegation met with three of the four authors of the Charter: ex-foreign minister Tofig Zulfugarov, ex-aide to the Azerbaijan President Eldar Namazov and ex-president of SOCAR Sabit Bagirov. The meeting was held at the "Zerkalo" newspaper's office.

The guests introduced themselves as Bagram Agajanaian from the Stepanakert Press Club, Karen Ogajanian, Armidak Badalova, and other members of the "Helsinki Initiative-92" group. The purpose of the meeting, according to E. Namazov, was to inform the guests of the public opinion in Azerbaijan.

Mr. Zulfugarov defined the main principles of the Charter dwelling upon the principles of Garabagh solution: liberation of the occupied territories, inviolability of the Azerbaijan borders and return of IDPs to their homes. If these conditions are accepted, Azerbaijan can make various concessions and seek ways of negotiating the Garabagh peace settlement and status. Otherwise, Azerbaijan is capable of using force, he said.

A. Badalova said both nations are psychologically not prepared for peace, indicating that a meeting could be organized of Azeri refugees from Armenia and Garabagh with Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan.

Mr. Zulfugarov responded that it was not possible, because they are not in the same plight, as Azeri refugees have lost everything they had.

In response to B. Agajanian's question whether this Charter has been approved by the Azerbaijan authorities, the Azeri party said although it hadn't been yet, it did reflect the opinions of the country leaders.

Asked by an Armenian representative whether economic and other contacts were possible between Azerbaijan and Garabagh, it was stated that it could become a talking point only after foreign troops withdraw from Upper Garabagh, occupied territories liberated and IDPs returned to their homes.

Harsh feelings

The visit caused a sharp public outcry in the country, as many political organizations, parties, unions and the broad public vented their fury over the unceremonious statements by the visitors.

The Garabagh Liberation Organization believes that the visit by a group introducing themselves as representatives of the Upper Garabagh Republic (UGR) is an insult to Azerbajan's statehood and its people.

The Turkic Nationalist Party has described the visit as another contribution to the celebration of the 10th anniversary of so-called UGR and demands the authorities to hold Arzu Abdullayeva, chairperson of the National Committee of the Helsinki Watch, accountable for "high treason".

The Union of Pro-Azerbaijan Forces says it will hold various protest actions in Baku.

Some 50 people (members of the Garabagh Liberation Organization and human rights lawyers) conducted a picket in front of the national committee of the Helsinki Civil Watch in a move to disrupt a meeting of the visiting group at the committee. 15 protesters stormed the HCW building demanding that Karen Oganesian apologize to the 8-million Azerbaijan nation for introducing himself as a citizen of the Upper Garabagh Republic in his televised interview last Tuesday. The protesters also demanded that the meeting be stopped and separatist Armenians no longer invited to Azerbaijan.

‘Send them back’

Around 100 IDPs settled in the Azizbayov district of Baku conducted a protest action on the Baku-Airport highway last week expressing their indignation over the visit. In a televised news program one of the visitors declared that he had come from an "independent Upper Garabagh Republic" and demonstrated the passport of the Republic of Armenia.

IDPs ousted by Armenians from their homes 8 years ago stated during the action that they are determined to return there at whatever cost.

In conclusion, they condemned the fact of invitation of the group to Azerbaijan, which was organized by the chairperson of the national committee of the HCW Arzu Abdullayeva.

rotests to go on

The youth union for the freedom of Garabagh held a news conference at the "Ideal" press club Thursday. Also participating were young people from the Union for Integral Azerbaijan, political parties Musavat, Adalat and ADP.

It was announced that the $30,000 spent on the visit should have better been spent on alleviating the suffering of refugees and IDPs, treatment of the Garabagh war invalids. In conclusion, it was stated that protest actions would last until the separatist Armenians leave Baku.

Departure

The weeklong visit by Garabagh Armenians organized and funded by the Soros Foundation completed Tuesday. According to the Foundation's spokesman Rovshan Bagirov, Armenians are leaving Baku with conflicting feelings, as they believe that the constructive dialogue should be continued.