''Interview with the Azerbaijani service of the well-known BBC''. David Babayan

Interview with the Azerbaijani service of the well-known BBC. We talked about the Azerbaijani-Karabagh settlement, the situation in the conflict zone, and the prospects for a settlement. The main and only obstacle on the way to the settlement of the conflict is Armenophoby that has become state ideology in Azerbaijan. As for the future of relations between Artsakh and Azerbaijan and the so-called integration, I emphasized the following:
Integration implies the following main components: equality of the parties and voluntariness. The key aspect is also the normalization of relations. We are for equal relations with Azerbaijan. And what about Azerbaijan? Naturally, no. The first component does not work here. As for voluntariness, we do not want integration with Azerbaijan, the people of Artsakh have never put up with the forced annexation and being part of Azerbaijan in the period from 1921 to 1988. From 1988 to this day, we have been a sovereign, independent country. Yes, we are for the normalization of relations with Azerbaijan, and this is the goal of the Azerbaijani-Karabagh conflict settlement. We should be at least neutral neighbors. Azerbaijan, on the contrary, is trying to absorb Artsakh by force and threat of force, covering it up with the term “integration” or “re-integration”. But this is nothing but colonization. Artsakh is in a difficult situation, but we will struggle for our dignity and worthy future.
I also addressed the Azerbaijani society. We do not consider the people of this country, ordinary people, as enemies. There is no good or bad people. But, there are dangerous and bad state regimes. Man does not choose his race or nation. Racial and ethnic hatred is, in essence, hatred towards God. You can't live on hate. In life, in politics, in history, the boomerang principle always works. No crime ever goes unpunished, sooner or later it will be necessary to be accountable. Hatred and genocidal politics, even if it is imposed by the authorities on the people and society, becomes a collective sin, and implies collective responsibility.