IT IS SPOKEN ABOUT RIGHTS OF KARABAKH ARMENIANS IN AZERBAIJAN BUT AZERIS THEMSELVES CALL TO CUT THEIR EARS OFF AND THROW STONES AT THEM

PanARMENIAN.Net - Even state figures were worried. Aliyev's administration international department head Ali Hasanov has stated that the country leadership is not against of the contacts of non-governmental organizations of Armenia and Azerbaijan at all. At the same time he made a rather frank confession: It turns out that Azerbaijani authorities support the contacts of social structures and journalists of the two conflict sides not for the reason that it makes sense but just in order not to upset the OSCE peacemakers that wish Armenians and Azerbaijanis became friends very much. But, fortunately, not all Azerbaijanis think the people's diplomacy is needed only in order not to hurt the feelings of Europeans. For example, famous right defender and journalist Eldar Zeynalov condemned the local media position as, in his evaluation, it became "a blind instrument of the campaign against people's diplomacy organized by "the upper levels". Zeynalov's article in "Echo" newspaper is strongly different in its tone from most articles of this rather popular newspaper in Azerbaijan. First of all, the right defender expresses his sorrows as Baku newspapers, non-governmental organizations and several local peacemakers just "doubled the confusion" with their showy patriotism. Zeynalov refuses to understand how the same people can call for peace at one moment and support the idea to liberate Karabakh by use of force but "in a way that peaceful people would not suffer" at another. "I wonder, how?", the right defender asks.

"Azerbaijani leadership has supported the idea of peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict since 1994. It seemed clear that "peaceful way" is negotiations and in order to reconcile, people have to sit at the negotiation table with enemies and not their friends. But people in our country consider this unacceptable and would like to have talks on Karabakh with Martians than Armenians. However endless appeals to the world community hardly help anyone and no international organization will press Armenia unless the negotiations of conflict sides take place", writes Zeynalov. According to him, the promises regarding free life of people in Karabakh that would be a part of Azerbaijan are worth nothing if they are not supported with real guarantees. "It is spoken about autonomy for Armenians in our country but it is called in the press including the official one to "get rid of" Armenians in Karabakh. They speak about guarantees of the rights of Karabakh Armenians but they themselves showy keep down the rest of Armenians in Baku with relish, call to cut their ears off and throw stones at them… It is spoken about equal rights of Armenians of the future Karabakh but they themselves have trials regarding insults of honor and dignity with suppositions that someone had Armenian ancestors. They speak about peacemaking, but also fuss over the charter stating the possible military settlement of the conflict", the right defender says indignantly.

The rest of the article will be stated with no comments.
"We, right defenders, are often accused of defending everyone, including Armenians, arm our enemies with information. But I will tell you a simple recipe: do not violate the rights of people and enemies would have nothing to say. And one more thing: it is the third millennium now and even the strongest and strictest censor can not cover the information. It is spread by the emigrating Armenians, Jewish people and those Russians who were deprived of their apartments but who were promised new ones by the courts as soon as "Karabakh is liberated". Hundreds of foreign journalists, diplomats, scientists working in our country are not blind and deaf either and they publish hundreds of articles and reports.
To fight, that is to fight by ourselves when one must meet real bullets wants neither of the leadership, the opposition, "patriots", refugees, journalists…Then what is the matter? We have to reconcile, that is to make a compromise with the enemy. But for a politician of "Karabakh formation on the 1988-1993 model this is something such as death. That is why they either imitate the negotiations or prefer to keep them completely secret...
The main idea of "people's diplomacy" is the belief that peoples do not have to be responsible for the steps made by politicians and soldiers regarding the conflict but they do have to be responsible for the fate of peace. The people having this belief are, as a rule, people that do not have high ranks but those who have non-formal authority including press which is "the fourth power". I think this is also clear for the head of Yerevan press club who made a reserve that the club "is ready to assist the business visits of Armenian journalists to Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani colleagues to Armenia". If it is ready that what that demarche was for?..
Where the official talks have skidded for nine years, there is no alternative except "people's diplomacy". So, my colleagues, do not put your suitcases away".

There is nothing to add to Zeynalov's words. The honesty of the intelligent man, worried with the present rulers' policy that is a way to a dead-end, raises hopes that there really are people in Azerbaijan to whom we can extend our hand fearlessly being not afraid that it might be cut off.