Azimov said he does not find anything wrong in his response to the Austrian journalist.

“I must say that my responses were more detailed, but whether due to the volume of the material or some other reasons the interview was published too short.

However, I reiterate that in my interview there is nothing that could have been a theme for controversy seekers for days. I have to admit that I’m surprised by this artificial agiotage which gained in strength in the wake of a campaign of criticism against the Foreign Ministry. Behind this campaign I think stand some internal and external forces united due to their jealousy of Azerbaijan’s attainments in foreign policy. In my response to the journalist’s question regarding Syria there is no support for any force involved in the Syria process, which cannot be assessed unequivocally: A wide range of armed opposition groups interspersed with international terrorist organizations, the geometrically flexible structure called ISIL, and armed groups of ethnic ambitions, such as Kurdish groups.

The ongoing international crisis around Syria is characterized by serious disagreements among main countries concerned. Rival coalitions continue inflicting air strikes, but we see that these are less effective for a variety of reasons. However, I don’t support the position of any of the parties.

As for the position of Azerbaijan, we took part in the discussion of the Syrian crisis and adoption of the Security Council resolutions even in 2012-2013 as a member of the UN Security Council. We also joined the group of Friends of Syria and provided some assistance. Recently, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev attended the Supporting Syria and the Region Conference in London. I have also talked about it in my interview. I also said that Azerbaijan`s position is based on adherence to the norms and principles of the international law and UN Security Council resolutions, the support to the territorial integrity of Syria and the political process which can include the country’s all political forces, including President Assad.

We don’t support anyone, but principles. If Bashar al-Assad decides to leave the power tomorrow, we won’t stand against it. At the same time, we don’t insist on him remaining in power unconditionally. However, as the cart cannot be put before the horse, serious consequences of the political process in the context of the ongoing military crisis cannot be expected as well. I spoke about it in the interview.

We support the maintenance of the territorial integrity of Syria. The Syrian people will themselves determine the fate of the government. Necessary conditions should be created in this regard, but unfortunately, we don’t see this,” he stressed.

Azimov noted that the maintenance of the Syrian territorial integrity is not only in the interests of Azerbaijan. “Our strategic partner and fraternal country Turkey is also interested in it [territorial integrity of Syria]. And, of course, we fully support Turkey in this context.

I have noted in my interview that the territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders of Turkey don’t only meet its own national interest. It should be in the interests of the European community as Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and the inviolability of its borders are important not only at the national level, but also at the European level.

I don’t know the reasons for which the Austrian journalist didn’t include these statements in his article.

Then something happened in the Azerbaijani media. One of media outlets deliberately isolated the phrase of out the context and used it as the headline giving it a certain political significance. And then, as we were able to observe the process of insinuations and false conclusions.

For those who love looking for a black cat in a dark room: I probably will not justify your anxious expectations and will not engage in empty polemics. Don’t accept is as snobbery, but I’m busy. I would like to call for avoidance of unfounded criticism and generalizations. Please refrain from insults, although I understand how difficult it is.

In conclusion, I would like to note that no campaign – whether internal or external – will influence on Azerbaijan’s foreign policy, in particular, its relations with its strategic partners and the activities of the Foreign Ministry’s professional officials who with honor and dignity are defending our national interests.

More about: