Azerbaijani nationalists are sick, just like Armenian nationalists: Azeri analyst

Alper Budka / DUVAR

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Azeri analyst Zardusht Alizadeh has said that the nationalists in Azerbaijan are as sick as those in Armenia, as he commented on the deadly conflict in the South Caucasus region.

Alizadeh, a former politician and an opponent of President Ilham Aliyev, said that Azerbaijani nationalists seek the formation of a "Great Azerbaijan."

"Azeri nationalists are sick just like Armenian nationalists. They want a Great Azerbaijan and want soil from Iran, Russia and Armenia," Alizadeh told Duvar on Oct. 6.

"Nationalists who come to power in anywhere in the world would bring destruction only. Democrats and those who trust in the superiority of law know that we will establish good neighborly relations with Armenia. The markets of the two countries will be open to each other," he added.

When asked whether Azerbaijan seeks to take the Zangezur Corridor as suggested by Turkey's Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli, Alizadeh said, "We don't live in the Middle Ages."

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"We don't have eyes on Armenian soil and Azerbaijan declared that. Our aim is to retake Nagorno-Karabakh that we legally own. I respect the thoughts of Mr. Bahçeli and all politicians, but Azerbaijan doesn't seek to take soil from other than Karabakh," he said.

"Why would we lay eyes on Armenian soil? We don't live in the Middle Ages. There is a thing called superiority of international law. If the Karabakh issue is solved, the two countries will recognize each other and diplomatic, commercial and humanitarian relationships will be established," Alizadeh added.

According to the analyst, all the fights between Armenia and Azerbaijan began after 1988 "since major powers used nationalists."

"They turned nationalists to a tool of imperialism," he said.