Karabakh is the territory of Azerbaijan. This was stated by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at a joint press conference with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. According to him, this is the clear and unequivocal position of official Berlin. “We have always said that this is your [Azerbaijan’s] territory, and today we reaffirm Germany’s clear and direct position,” Steinmeier said in response to a question about why no measures were taken against Armenia for 30 years of occupation of Azerbaijani territories. Speaking about the signing of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Steinmeier noted that the conditions outlined by Baku for the agreement are achievable, and the parties can overcome the barriers on the path to peace.
Ilham Aliyev reminded everyone at the same press conference what these conditions are. “Our conditions are known to Armenia; they are not new. We have been promoting these conditions for a long time. However, we have yet to receive a serious response from Armenia,” said the head of the Azerbaijani Republic. “Firstly, the OSCE Minsk Group must be abolished. Secondly, the constitution of Armenia must be amended. The Armenian constitution contains a reference to the Declaration of Independence of Armenia, which is an integral part of it. That document includes a provision claiming that the historical and legal territory of Azerbaijan is part of Armenia—this is considered an open territorial claim against us. Therefore, removing this provision from Armenia’s constitution is our legitimate demand. Once these two conditions are met, there will be no obstacles to signing a peace treaty. As the saying goes, the ball is in Armenia’s court. If Armenia truly wants peace, it must accept these two legitimate conditions of Azerbaijan,” Aliyev added.
But another fact is no secret. In Baku, the political dialogue is not only—or even primarily—with Yerevan, but with European politicians, where there is persistent insistence on ending the activities of the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMA) on the Armenian side of the conditional border. In other words, those very same “binocular lovers.” One could list their strange, and at times scandalous, actions for quite a while. These include attempts to direct fortification work of Armenia’s armed forces, and a persistent silence when the Armenian army violates the ceasefire—among other things.
Here’s what’s notable: Steinmeier became the first high-ranking European politician to visit Armenia without meeting these very “binocular lovers.” For comparison, Polish Prime Minister Andrzej Duda even went to the conditional border with them. The German President spent a considerable amount of time in Armenia but avoided meeting with EUMA. And in diplomatic protocol, as experts remind us, there are no insignificant details.
And Steinmeier had good reasons to be cautious. First, tensions were already high ahead of his visit to Baku—initially due to a provocative video broadcast by the German state outlet Deutsche Welle, followed by a social media post from the German president that featured the separatist flag with a “Tetris”-like pattern. Steinmeier’s office had to issue a written apology and agree to make the letter public. In such a climate, additional irritants like the “binocular lovers” were clearly unwelcome. Second, it’s entirely possible that despite all its blunders, the German protocol service still remembered how EUMA previously set up the Polish PM by taking him to a section of the border where Armenia continues to occupy the Azerbaijani village of Karki. Minval had already reported on this. And there are many more “thirdly’s,” “fifthly’s,” and “tenthly’s.”
Finally, one more thing is clear. While certain circles of “pink ponies” may romanticize Pashinyan’s “barbecue revolution,” real geopolitical interests remain in full force. At the joint press conference with Aliyev, Steinmeier even thanked Azerbaijan for its support during the gas crisis with Russia—despite the fact that members of his own party, the SPD, had previously thrown every imaginable obstacle in Azerbaijan’s way, hysterically questioning “how can you buy gas from Azerbaijan where human rights are violated—just buy from Russia instead.” Now, deepening ties with Central Asia is also on the agenda. On April 3, the EU–Central Asia Summit kicks off. The region is rich in resources, borders China, and lies in Russia’s soft underbelly… And the only route into this region that is not controlled by either Russia or Iran passes through Azerbaijan.
And suddenly, speaking to Azerbaijan with respect becomes a necessity. Primarily because our country conducts its foreign policy based on its own national interests. And also—with a sense of dignity.
Nurani
Translated from minval.az
