Despite aid ban, Azeri president stands with America

First made President of Azerbaijan in October, 1993, Heydar Aliyev, 78, has been a leading political figure in his homeland for decades. In October 1998, he was re-elected to the presidency, and intends to again in 2003. A widower with three grown children and six grandchildren, he has survived several coups and assassination attempts, in his efforts to transform his homeland from a former satellite of the Soviet Union into a free and independent market-driven society.

In this exclusive interview, Aliyev discusses a wide range of topics, from Azerbaijan’s long strained relations with neighboring Armenia, to its growing ties with the United States and its bid to develop democratic principles.
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President Bush meets with Azerbaijan’s President Heydar Aliyev at the White House.

TWT: Mr. President, as a result of the September 11 terrorist attack on New York and Washington, the Bush Administration and the Congress are reportedly reviewing Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act and other legislation that affects US relations with Central Asian countries. How would the repeal of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act affect Azerbaijan's relations with the United States?

Aliyev: First of all, I would like to say that we were in a state of indignation after the events of September 11. It is an event unprecedented in history. We consider this event as an episode aimed not only at the United States, but also against all of modern mankind, against peace, against democracy, against stability.

I have already expressed my deep condolences to President Bush. Then, when the United States administration expressed its decisiveness to fight against the terrorists, as the leader of my country, I also expressed our readiness to support the United States, and to participate in operations. The relations between Azerbaijan and the United States are that of a strategic partnership. Therefore, we are a part of the anti-terror alliance created by the United States. We are ready, within the framework of our capabilities, to do our best to find, to search, and to bring the terrorists to justice.

You mentioned 907. It is quite clear that it is an unjust decision made against Azerbaijan. But now that the world is engaged in the fight against terrorism, we are not going to raise 907. To focus on that at this time is not our number one priority. We have repeatedly appealed to the Presidents and to the Congress, saying that 907 is unjust. But now, when the United States has encountered these hardships and difficulties, we are not going to press our case. I think our participation in the anti-terror operations will strengthen the relations between the United States and Azerbaijan.

TWT: What are your views on the prospects for a peaceful settlement of the Armenian aggression and occupation of one-fifth of Azerbaijan, and the repatriation of hundreds of thousands of displaced persons?

Aliyev: You know that the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan started in 1988. After that, it turned out to be a very cruel war, and much blood was shed. Many people died, and there were many injured.

Armenian armed forces occupy 20 percent of our territory. More than one million of our citizens have become victims of ethnic cleansing, and they still live in tent camps.Armenia is an aggressor, and they did things that one would not think could be done by human beings.

But now we have to find a way out. And for us, the only way is through a peaceful settlement. To settle the issue peacefully, the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) created the Minsk Group in 1992. There are twelve member countries of the Minsk Group. The co-chairing countries right now are Russia, the United States and France. We are holding continuous negotiations with them.

At the same time, for the last two years, we have had direct negotiations and talks between the President of Armenia and the President of Azerbaijan. The goal of these meetings and direct talks is to find a way to settle the issue peacefully.

Naturally, a new war could start. But I think enough blood has been shed. I think it is necessary to settle the issue peacefully. And if the issue were settled peacefully on the basis of justice, it would be quite natural to have good relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

People in Armenia and Azerbaijan have been neighbors for centuries. None of us is going to leave these areas, neither Armenians nor Azerbaijanis. Therefore it is necessary to establish peace. There should be security guarantees to preserve the peace.

So we have great challenges ahead of us. First of all, to liberate the occupied lands, and to return people who have left these territories, Azerbaijanis, to their permanent places of dwelling. Second, we have to construct new premises for them to live and to work.

TWT: How would you characterize Azerbaijan's present relations with Russia, Iran and Turkey?

Aliyev: We are a small country, and we have only recently gained our independence. We are celebrating the tenth anniversary of our independence. We are a peaceful nation. We want to have peaceful and friendly relations with all of our neighbors, but it doesn't depend only on us. It is a mutual process.

TWT: What do you consider the greatest accomplishments of the first ten years of Azerbaijan's independence?

Aliyev: The collapse of the USSR in 1991, and the independence gained by Azerbaijan as a result of that collapse, was truly an historic event for us. But it was extremely hard to preserve our independence, and to develop new economic, political and social relationships.

Azerbaijan was one of 15 republics of the USSR. The difference with Azerbaijan, in comparison to the others, was that when we declared our independence, we were in a state of war with Armenia, and a part of Azerbaijan's territory was occupied by Armenia.

But, the main objective of Azerbaijan at that time, and we continue to pursue this objective, was to establish Azerbaijan as a democratic, secular state based on the rule of law. We want to develop the country based on market economy principles. We want to integrate Azerbaijan into the community of Western countries.

These tasks separately are very hard responsibilities, but the war complicated them even more. At that time, the internal stability of Azerbaijan suffered a lot. We had several coups d'etat. In fact, we had those difficulties back in 1993. The Popular Front, which had come to power the year before, lost the people's confidence and trust. Azerbaijan at that time was on the verge of civil war and the edge of splitting apart. That was the hardest year for us. I came to Azerbaijan in that year.

A year later - on October 4, there was a military coup attempt. What I did to preserve the nationhood was to make a speech on television that day. On the same day, late in the evening, about a half million people gathered on the square in front of the Presidential Palace. On the next day, one million people gathered on the square.

We managed to preserve the state, but six months later, a very large armed group tried to attempt another coup d'etat. We stopped it in March of 1995. There were also a few assassination attempts against the President of Azerbaijan. But we halted those as well.

After 1995 and 1996, we managed to establish internal stability in Azerbaijan. And then the economic development of the country started.

As we celebrate the tenth anniversary of our independence, we do not forget those events.

But we are celebrating our accomplishment, because we have had a few achievements. Probably you see the people living a quiet and happy life here.

Now we have excellent conditions here. Restaurants and discothèques have opened. And the daily life of the people has been improved. During the evening, you can walk safely.

So these 10 years have been proud years for us. But at the same time we still have problems.

TWT: What are the most pressing challenges facing Azerbaijan today, as you look forward to running for office again?

Aliyev: The first challenge is to settle peacefully the problem between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Second, we must realize the great economic potential of Azerbaijan and improve the daily life of the people. Third, we must make Azerbaijan stronger. Fourth, we must broaden the cooperation with oil companies from the United States and other countries.

I am going to run for office again. And I'm telling you that in the year 2003, I'll be re-elected president.

TWT: What is your vision for Azerbaijan? How would you like to see the country modernize while maintaining its unique identity?

Aliyev: This is a part of my strategy — to preserve the national moral values of Azerbaijan. A part of these values are connected to Islam. We do not deny Islam. This is our religion.

At the same time, I am trying to synthesize the national moral values of Azerbaijan with European values, the values known to the entire world.

I want to see my country as a secular nation, but not separated from its national roots. Every nation has its own peculiarities. And I am very proud of my roots.

TWT: Many older people seem somewhat disillusioned with the change to democracy and a market economy. On the other hand, some young people seem impatient with changes that seem to come too slowly. So some leave for better jobs in Russia or the West. What do you say to your people about these things? What must Azerbaijan do to meet the expectations of its people?

Aliyev: You know, I don't see anything extraordinary here. For nearly a hundred years, people lived with the Soviet ideology. So the older generations are connected with that ideology, and the hardest thing for us is to transition ourselves from that ideology to democracy. You know, in the United States, in Western countries, they think that in one year, in two years, it's possible to transition to democracy. That's not possible

Democracy in itself is an ongoing process. It has a beginning, but it has no end. The United States has reached the highest point of democracy, but still, it will never reach the summit.

Azerbaijan is making its first, fragile steps on the way to democracy. And, or course, the old generation has some conservative thoughts about this. It takes time to settle these issues.