Local media
Toshiyuki Fujiwara: ‘Japan supports Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and wishes for a quick resolution of the conflict’ (Azertag)
‘As someone, who loves the friendly people of Azerbaijan, I wish for the rapid resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. I am sorry for the pain and suffering inflicted by this conflict on your people for so many years. I wish that the Nagorno-Karabakh region will soon return to its previous state, that is, within the territories of Azerbaijan’, said Toshiyuki Fujiwara, Japanese ambassador to Azerbaijan in 1999-2002.
The former ambassador reminded that Japan, too, has territorial disputes with several neighboring countries and noted that the world experience had developed two ways of resolving this problem – negotiations and war. He mentioned that Japan was against wars as a solution to those conflicts. The latest Constitution of Japan, which was defeated in World War II, bans wars as a means of resolving conflicts. Therefore, Fujiwara reminded that his country preferred to negotiate with its neighbors.
The diplomat emphasized that it was wrong for the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to continue for so long and that it was a great injustice toward people expelled from the occupied territories. Keeping territories under occupation is unacceptable; therefore, the parties should prefer to employ civilized means of problem-solving. Otherwise, the armed conflict may deepen, leading up to a World War.
The former ambassador also noted that the ongoing armed conflict was a threat to international energy security and that it was crucial to take this into account. The proximity of combat to the oil and gas pipelines, which are vital for the economy of Eurasia, puts these pipelines at risk and this matter should be given utmost attention. Azerbaijan should be more attentive to countries importing oil and gas and issue warning calls about the danger arising. The leaders of those states should take a more active stance on resolving the conflict.
The former ambassador emphasized how unacceptable it was for the Armenian army to fire rockets at Azerbaijani cities and reminded that it violated international law and the principles of the Geneva Convention.
Fujiwara pointed out that the publications in the media of Japan and a number of European countries about the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict mostly sided with the Armenian position and wanted the Azerbaijani side to voice their messages louder. He thought it is necessary for Azerbaijani friends to appeal to the international media and all international organizations, including the UN, to speak of their rightful cause. He urged them to work more proactively in this direction.
The former ambassador stated that the Japanese government supports the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and expressed his wishes for the borders to return to the former Soviet state and to sit around at the negotiations table along with the OSCE Minsk Group to resolve the problem.