Liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan’s accession to the CSTO

For the sake of the liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh, I look positively at the accession of Azerbaijan to the CSTO. I have already said several times and once again I want to repeat that the CSTO member countries are pursuing a rather independent policy and do not depend on Russia. On the contrary, they, having become members of organizations created at the initiative of Russia, received significant economic and political concessions and advantages. Who can say that Kazakhstan or Belarus are not independent, that they are vassals of Russia?At present, the economic and political conditions in these countries are more favorable; they are free to sell their goods in the gigantic Russian market, their citizens can take advantage of the business opportunities created by Russia.

Our country’s accession to this organization in return for the liberation of Karabakh is not dangerous, and therefore we not only do not intend to oppose such initiatives but, on the contrary, we want this issue to be actively discussed in our country. The initiative should be put on the agenda by Azerbaijan itself. And without that, our country has friendly relations with all the countries included in this organization, with the exception of Armenia. By becoming a member of the CSTO, Azerbaijan can exert pressure on Armenia at every meeting.

A number of politicians think that it is better to integrate into Europe, the West, than to come closer to Russia. And we want it and wish it. But the political elite does not want this, puts forward its own conditions, and Europe does not accept them. The country and our citizens suffer. We should not forget that about 3 million of our citizens live in Russia. On the other hand, no one blocks our way to Europe. We will certainly do our best to become a member of the European family.