In his interview to Eurasia Diary, Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan Fuad Muradov answered some questions about Antonio Guterres, who has been appointed as the next UN Secretary-General.
Eurasia Diary: How do you see the relations between the United Nations and Azerbaijan after the appointment of a new UN Secreatry-General? Antonio Guterres has visited Azerbaijan many times and was accepted by Azerbaijani officials. In your opinion, what kind of issues can be raised by the representatives of civil society in Azerbaijan under the presidency Antonio Guterres?
Fuad Muradov: Assuredly, the fact that the new head of the most influential international organization is well acquainted not only with Azerbaijan but also with our politics, is encouraging for us. Simultaneously, Antonio Guterres hasvisited Azerbaijan repeatedly and he has good knowledge about our country. Hence I believe that the further strengthening of relations with the UN is observable. Moreover, the problem of our country’s territorial integrity is at the forefront.Obviously, the government and representatives of civil society will raise Nagorno-Karabakh issue in front of the new UN Secretary-General. UN new governance will press Armenia to implement the four resolutions adopted by the UN regarding Nakorno-Karabakh. Nowadays, Azerbaijan's strategic importance in the world, its role in the world’s energy security issue as well as its strong position in territorial integrity provide us with the conditions to to solve this problem. Nevertheless, people who were expelled from their homelands remains the part of Nagorno-Karabakh problem.
Eurasia Diary: By the way, Antonio Guterres has been working as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for a long time. In your opinion, will the new Secretary General help to resolve the refugees’ problem? Is it possible to expect new reforms and steps from him in this path? Generally, what kind of support the new Secretary General can provide in solving Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Azerbaijani refugees issue?
Fuad Muradov: Azerbaijan is one of the countries with the biggest amount of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the world. The rights of our citizens have been violated 20 years. The international community and the new Secretary General of the UN High Commission for Refugees are well aware of this issue. In our turn, we should bring the importance of the issue with refugees and IDPs in front of the new governance. I hope that the UN Secretary General who has been working in this field for many years will take more decisive steps. However, this problem can’t be solved in one day because the UN has to take decisive steps for the peaceful resolution of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan after which refugees’ rights will be reinstated. All these issues are connected with each other in chain order.
Eurasia Diary: There were 5 female candidates for the UN Secretary General position. Everyone was expection a woman to be selected as a new UN Secretary General. Ban Ki-Moon said “Personally, I would like the UN to be lead by a woman”. The public disapprovingly take the appointment of a male candidate and someone even criticized it. What do you think about this?
Fuad Muradov: From my perspective, the gender does not matter.More important is to have a leader who is called upon to adhere to the justice position and solve the world problems by fair judgments. The UN has more than two hundred member-states including countries that have different-minded views as well as their own political expectations. Perhaps these factors influenced on the election results too.
