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No agency, no international organization can set any conditions to us, President Ilham Aliyev

22 September 2012 00:57 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. "Foundation of the Diplomatic Academy was a very significant event in the history of our country. I am very glad that in a short time the Academy has made rapid development, has gained great prestige in the country, the region and the world. Today there is activity of the academy to train professional personnel. I am confident that in the coming years the Academy will further expand its operations," said Ilham Aliyev at The 4th meeting of diplomatic corps of Azerbaijan.

"There are a lot of young people and experienced diplomats among ambassadors. They are well aware of their duties and I think, in general, well do it. I repeat, life is rapidly growing, international relations are changing, and in the international arena, new questions, new challenges arise. Of course, we need to make certain amendments to our foreign policy regularly. But we should take into consideration that our strategic course remains unchanged."

The Head of State spoke of specific issues of foreign policy: "We have to strengthen the bilateral format. Bilateral format brings us great success. Especially, we should take into account that number of countries willing to establish close relations with Azerbaijan grows, our foreign diplomacy is very active. My numerous visits abroad strengthen this excellent base, and the visits of my colleagues in our country and the ongoing negotiations intensify bilateral format. That is our main line in foreign policy - bilateral relations."

I can say that in our bilateral relations, no matter big or small country, we were able to form relations equal in rights. This is very important. And it should be so. Because equitable relations in the bilateral format - this is the only possible relations. Our approach is that our policy is well-intentioned, is to work, deepen cooperation in all areas. Of course, these relations should be built on the basis of mutual respect, mutual interest and non-interference in each otherâ€™s affairs. I can say that our relations with all countries - Ambassadors know it, let the public know too, are constructed on this plane. Therefore, in the future the number of embassies will grow and so the bilateral format will be more extended. Of course, with 155 countries that voted for us in the UN Security Council, we have to establish more intensive relations. I can say that we do not have active relations with each of the 155 countries, that is, we had their support in advance, now we need to strengthen this relationship. "

President Aliyev said that Azerbaijan holds fairly open foreign policy: "As our membership and activities at international organizations, and in this area there are no cases hidden to the public. We are active at all the organizations; we protect our interests and meet our obligations. In front of the organizations of which we are not member, we can not have any obligations. It is an axiom. Because if we are not a member of any organization, how we can take a commitment? No agency, no international organization can set any conditions to us. Because this is unacceptable. We do not accept this. In bilateral contacts personally, I very openly express my thoughts about what is acceptable, only equal relations are for us. We have voluntarily become members of international organizations. If we see that where our interests are violated or demonstrated biased position toward Azerbaijan, we can also come out voluntarily. We have repeatedly seen this biased. Personally I have seen. I am a witness to this biased position, not only double, and triple, even quinary standards. Nothing has changed. That is, since the beginning of the 2000s to the present day in this issue nothing not changed. Azerbaijan just changed," said President Ilham Aliyev