Your trusted source

"I am convinced that the Armenian people are not our enemy, they are a victim of the tragedy, just as the Azerbaijanis. Both countries were evicting people. During the inter-state conflict, many are involved in it. People are drafted into the army, and they have to commit their duty. I am not calling for the non-commitment of duty, there is something more important – not burning books, not thinking each other eternal enemies,” said exiled Chairman of the Union of Cinematographers of Azerbaijan Rustam Ibragimbekov in an interview given to press service of Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund.

Touching upon the issue of the breakdown of the Soviet Union the playwright noted that this was a genuine blast from which people are still coming to life: "Such a hasty separation was to give birth to mutual claims. Azerbaijan and Armenia for instance. The territorial claims, if there were any, had nature of preference, and not of warfare, while we were living in one government. Armenia believed Karabakh was their land, and we believed that it was ours. This is a matter of discussions, negotiations, and scientific researches."

As the playwright noted the conflict settlement through military means is a crime. "Violent methods of solving any problem are unacceptable in the 21st century. Today the whole world, to some extent, is involved in the Karabakh issue. The society of two countries is not satisfied with the current state of the affairs. It may cause resumption of hostilities, because the peaceful talks are still unsuccessful, regardless the efforts of the participants of the process," he said.

According to Ibragimbekov an abscess occurred in the treatment of which the role of public diplomacy is very important. Playwright notes that understanding between people is necessary.

"Azerbaijan wants to return Nagorno Karabakh. But it is not only the land, but also the population, were mostly Armenians live. We believe that all who live and lived in Nagorno-Karabakh are citizens of Azerbaijan. That means that they have all the same rights as the rest population of Azerbaijan. How can they be considered as people with different quality?" asks Ibragimbekov noting that cultivation in Azerbaijan of enmity against the Armenians is a serious mistake. "If we do not set up human relationship for the future, the missed chance will not be returned then," emphasizes the playwright.

Note that the film director Rustam Ibragimbekov periodically becomes the target of Azerbaijani authorities’ attacks. Famous playwright is being subjected to harassment for criticizing the authorities and "for the love towards the Armenians." Ibragimbekov has stated that "Azerbaijan is ruled by a group of oligarchic officials, violating the rights of the citizens, and who will receive the fate of the Arab dictators." At present R. Ibragimbekov has left Azerbaijan.

In September 2012 they announced about the establishment of the Union of Azerbaijani Organizations of Russia (ECCS), one of the founders of which was Rustam Ibragimbekov. State Committee for Work with Diaspora of Azerbaijan issued a statement, which said that it creation of ECCS was inappropriate. The statement read that the State Committee considers the creation of the Union a step, which does not serve the unification and solidarity of Azerbaijanis and has a negative attitude to this fact.