Surenas
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In article Caucasus expert Stefan Meister from the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) in Berlin said that Azerbaijan is trying to preserve its independence vis-a-vis its big southern neighbor.
"This is about Iran's influence on Azerbaijan's politics and about the existing fear of Islamization," Meister said. "Azerbaijan feels threatened and is sending signals that it wants to work together with the West and be an important partner for the West in the region."
Stefan Meister also said that western nations should continue to support Azerbaijan but not interfere directly in its policies.
"The Americans have invested a lot in this country against the Russians and against Iran, and continue to do so. Azerbaijan is calling for support from the West." He warned western nations, however, from egging on Azerbaijan.
"There should be attempts to develop trust on other levels," Meister said. "There are areas such as the fight against drugs or economic relations where a lot can be done. The question is whether the governments are willing to do so."
Iranian parliamentarians threaten to revise the Turkmenchay treaty in which Iran gave Azerbaijan to the Russians:
"We as the members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (the Parliament) warn the Baku leaders that if they don't desist from their vicious acts, we will revise the two disgraceful and imposed treaties of Golestan and Turkmenchay in the parliament," representative of Azeri-language speaking Oroumiyeh Nader Qazipour said at an open session of the parliament, APA reports quoting FARS News Agency.
A senior Iranian legislator warned the Azeri government to avoid any further mischievous acts “against Tehran” or wait for the approval of a parliament bill by Iran which would require the government to revise the Turkmenchay treaty. He also said that if a referendum is held among the Azeri residents of those cities which have been separated from Iran based on the Golestan and Turkmenchay treaties, the people of those areas will vote for their territories being annexed to Iran again.
Warning against Azerbaijan made at Iranian Parliament