"Armenians' neo-fascist ideas led to Khojaly genocide"
Azerbaijani military expert on Caliber.Az

INTERVIEWS  26 February 2023 - 17:45

Caliber.Az presents an interview with Azerbaijani military expert, reserve colonel Shair Ramaldanov.

- What do you think was the main cause of the genocide in Khojaly?

- It was primarily the neo-fascist ideas of the likes of Zori Balayan, those who planned the Karabakh conflict, and all the destructive forces that undermined good neighbourly Armenian-Azerbaijani relations.

That relations between Armenians and Azerbaijanis developed into an enmity is largely the fault of the entire Armenian society of the time. Suffice it to recall how Armenians boasted that their mothers whispered in their newborn babies' ears that Turks were the enemies of Armenians, and the entire younger generation was brought up in the same spirit.

Therefore, there is every reason to claim that the Khojaly genocide was a planned bloody action.

- Do you estimate that the Armenians would have succeeded in capturing Karabakh if Khojaly had remained in Azerbaijani hands at the time?

- Naturally, they would not have succeeded. Without the capture of Khojaly, there is no way Armenians could have occupied Karabakh. Although I would not attach strategic significance to this fact.

- Wasn't the Khojaly airport of strategic importance?

- From a military viewpoint, the Khojaly airport did not play such an important role in the occupation of Karabakh. It was not so much the airports and airfields that were used there, but other factors.

- Why does the West still not accept the terrible events in Khojaly as genocide?

- There is a clear explanation for this - double standards, which are reinforced by the Armenian diaspora abroad, as well as the pro-Armenian interests of some countries, such as France, for example.

- Is that why the Khojaly genocide has not been given the proper political and legal assessment?

- I think so. If there were no double standards in the global world, the political and legal assessment of the Khojaly tragedy could have been obtained even on the basis of one book by Zori Balayan, in which he describes the inhuman atrocities committed by Armenians against Azerbaijanis.

One more thing. If the West had taken even a tenth of the actions it is now taking in defence of Ukraine, there would have been no occupation of Karabakh by Armenia.

- Since you have touched on the Ukraine factor. In your estimation, how will this war end?

- I believe the war in Ukraine will end as a result of negotiations. It is well known that all wars end in peace. So, the Ukrainian war will also end at the negotiating table. But I would not attempt to predict its consequences…

- And lastly. Could there be new military clashes in Karabakh in the foreseeable future?

- I would not rule out this possibility. I believe that in case of such a scenario, Azerbaijan has the relevant potential and capabilities, which will be used to preserve security and stability in the region.

Caliber.Az