IN BAKU THEY WANT TO SEE LEVON TER-PETROSYAN AND HIS SON IN POWER OF ARMENIAPolitical elite of Azerbaijan does not even try to hide its warm feelings for the former President of Armenia The fact that the son of the former president of Armenia, David Ter-Petrosyan intends to participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections, was taken with enthusiasm in Baku. It is interesting that Azerbaijan pays much more attention to this fact than Armenia where nobody seriously discusses the political career of the son of the ex-president. April 2, 2003 PanARMENIAN.Net - Not hiding their feelings for the young man whom they do not know, the mass media of Baku believe that his participation in the elections ''may be interesting in the context of possible settlement of the Karabakh conflict''. The Echo newspaper, for example, has expressed such a strange opinion. How can the political ambitions of David Ter-Petrosyan affect the negotiations on Karabakh settlement? ''David Ter-Petrosyan may become an influential political figure,'' the newspaper reads. ''He will continue the policy of the Armenian National Movement and his father. In that case the foreign policy of Armenia may change and become more constructive,'' the observer concludes. Among these senseless statements and naive conclusions one thing is true: Azerbaijan is extremely interested in coming to power of the Armenian National Movement and its ideological leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan. Baku believes that thus it may gain control over Nagorno Karabakh. Such hopes are based on the opinion expressed by Levon Ter-Petrosyan before his resignation concerning the so-called ''stage-by-stage'' settlement of the Karabakh conflict. The ideological leader of the ANM did not participate in the presidential elections. However, in Baku they believe that he will come back. For example, political scientist Elhan Mehtiyev, who heads the Center of Peace and Conflicts' Settlement, forecasts: ''Ter-Petrosyan will run the elections after 5 years''. As far as his son is concerned, according to the political scientists, ''it will not be difficult for him to start a political career, as he is married with the daughter of the former minister of National Security David Shahnazaryan''. The co-chairman of the social-democratic party of Azerbaijan, Zardusht Alizade also hopes tha David Ter-Petrosyan will come to power: ''If David Ter-Petrosyan decides to use the political knowledge of his father, he will succeed''. Alizade wants to believe that the son of the ex-president will continue the policy of his father in the Karabakh issue, but he does not see any ground to state this: ''We do not know yet the program of David Ter-Petrosyan. Everything will become clear later, when he starts to express his opinion and to do certain things,'' the Azeri social-democrat says. At the same time, he hopes that David's father will make his presence felt: ''Levon Ter-Petrsyan continues to have weight in certain circles of the Armenian elite,'' Alizade says suggesting that ''the resignation of the ex president was not motivated by the negative attitude of the majority of Armenians towards his policy''. Representatives of the official authorities of Azerbaijan also do not hide their warm feelings for Levon Ter-Petrosyan. Head of the Foreign Relations Department of the Azerbaijani President apparatus, Novruz Mamedov, commenting recently on the rumors about the return of the former leader of Armenia, said: ''The being in power of a person like Ter-Petrosyan would be desirable. The government of our country believes that it would be positive''. Evidently, Levon Ter-Petrosyan and his son are more popular in Azerbaijan than in Armenia. But, does it do them credit? Most popular in the section Who is who in the web of so many Sargsyans Controversy in quotations Split of opposition votes There will be no ideal solution More articles in this section 6 simple facts about Armenia–Karabakh–Azerbaijan triangle Everything you need to know Main arguments of Armenia’s first President Next Karabakh proposals will be even worse Bizarre election promises Church taxation and restoration of monasteries in Western Armenia | Freedom House: “Why are there no Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh?” Freedom House has published a report summary titled “Why are there no Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh?” Aliyev: Change in Armenia’s Constitution key for singing peace deal Ilham Aliyev has declared that most important condition for signing a peace agreement is for Armenia to change its Constitution. U.S. sees “extraordinary” opportunity for peace between Armenia, Azerbaijan U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken believes there is an “extraordinary” opportunity to reach a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Viva: Armenia's leading technology company introduces a new trademark The updated brand Viva reflects a qualitatively new level of digital services. |