Day.Az 27.08.2008

"THE KREMLIN RULERS CARE NOTHING FOR INDEPENDENCE AND SOVEREIGNTY OF AZERBAIJAN. THEY ARE READY TO COME AT THE POINT OF THE BAYONET TO OUR HOUSES JUST AS THEY DID IN GEORGIA"

Day.Az interview with the Leader of Azerbaijan Liberal Party Lala Shevket. - Prof. Shevket, let me start with a straightforward question: do you think that the recognition of Abkhazia's and South Ossetia's independence by Russia became possible because of lack of real pressure upon the Kremlin from the West? - The recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states by Russia is not only a challenge to the international community, but also a total mistake of the incumbent Russian authorities, for this decision, as open support of separatism, puts Russia into a position of international isolation, showing itself a murderous and aggressive empire, which acts regardless of all the international legal principles. Russia has shown that it can occupy a part of an independent nation's territory without any hint of consideration for the international legal order and the views of the world community. I am sure that this step of Russia's leadership will definitely boomerang against itself. This country possesses a danger of separatism in Chechnya, Ingushetia, then in Bashkortostan and Tatarstan. At the same time I cannot but agree that Russia's decision to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states became possible due to a very slow response by the West to the growth of Kremlin's imperial ambitions. I think that the West bears moral responsibility for the present difficult position of Georgia, which has openly declared its desire to join NATO. However, in April on the NATO summit in Bucharest NATO member-states decide not to present Ukraine and Georgia with the Membership Action Plan. As the result Georgia is now facing occupation of its territory by Russia. And this situation is partly a fault of the West, which chose an appeasement policy in its dialogue with Russia, just like the same policy in respect of Nazi Germany in 1930s. We all know how it ended for the world. - But is the West ready to have an open military confrontation with Russia? - I do not think the West will go for it. But Russia will be completely isolated, economic and political sanctions will be brought against it. At the same time no one in the world, apart from some minor insignificant states, will recognize Abkhazia's and South Ossetia's independence. - Do you really think that Russian leadership has not considered all the possible negative consequences of a military aggression against Georgia and recognition of Abkhazia's and South Ossetia's independence? - To answer that question we need to look at the history. In 1939 the Soviet Union annexed parts of Finland's territory and in 1968 brought its troops into Czechoslovakia. Thus the triumph of imperial ambitions over sense of reality has always been a calling card of the official Moscow. It is a calling card of the Putin-Medvedev Russia too. - In that case hoe far can the Kremlin pursue its imperialist policy? - Undoubtedly, there is no end to Russia's ambitions and revanchist attitude. The next country in Russia's list is Ukraine. The world community should understand that, for Russia challenged it, recognizing not the force of law, but the right to use force. The people of Ukraine should understand that as well, for Russia tries to divide it into two camps under the infamous canon of all the empires "divide and rule". - Is it possible to believe Russian President Medvedev's promises that Moscow is not planning military incursion into the conflicts on the territory of other republics of the former Soviet Union? - Not at all! The great Winston Churchill said once that an agreement with Russia was worth only the price of paper on which it was written. The correctness of these words we can clearly see now, when Russia openly ignores all the norms of international law. Therefore, we must understand that Azerbaijan is now in danger, for we all see how obnoxiously, cynically and self-confidently moves Russia to its ultimate goal of bringing South Caucasus under its total control. The Kremlin rulers care nothing for independence and sovereignty of Azerbaijan. They are ready to come at the point of the bayonet to our houses just as they did in Georgia. - In that case is the opposition ready to consolidate in this very difficult hour around the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in the same manner as the Georgian opposition has done? - If Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev makes today an unambiguous choice for NATO, for integration of our country into Europe, for closer relations with the West, then not only me, but the whole opposition will be ready to stand with him side by side, for the national interests of Azerbaijan are more important for us that anything else. http://www.day.az/news/politics/128692.html

Ilya Feinsilberg Day.Az