Domestic

Domestic

Azerbaijani President: Frozen conflicts in BSECO members impede the regionâ€™s economic growth

25 June 2007 16:43 (UTC +04:00)

President Ilham Aliyev touched on the economic cooperation established after BSECO was set up. Speaking about the prospects of the cooperation inside the organization the President said Azerbaijan did its best for the development of BSECO and expansion of the relations.
â€œWe will continue to support the projects within the organization,â€ Azerbaijani President said.
President Aliyev touched upon geopolitical and economic projects implemented in Azerbaijan. Noting that Azerbaijan has already become a country exporting natural gas the President said the country will pass a new stage of energy projects from this year.
Head of Azerbaijani state said that Azerbaijan gained a lot of achievements in the sphere of energy and transport. Mentioning that the member states had just gained their independence when BSECO was established, the President underlined it is high time to pass a new stage notwithstanding difficulties.
Ilham Aliyev regretted that there are conflicts among the member states and said that 20 percent of Azerbaijani lands have been occupied by another member state of the organization, Azerbaijan has over 1 million refugees, their condition are not in line with international human rights and called it a great injustice. The Azerbaijani President called on the member states to help prevent this injustice. He expressed his regrets on Armenian ignoring the UN Security Council resolutions on Nagorno Karabakh. Addressing the heads of state and government Azerbaijan President said if Armenia does not pull out its troops from Azerbaijani territories, regional processes could lead to undesired scenarios.
â€œThe frozen conflict emerged in the territories of member states of BSECO should be settled. These unsettled conflict delay economic development and establishment of relations. Azerbaijan stnads for peace in the region because without peace it is impossible to achieve economic development,â€ he underlined.
President Aliyev said it is impossible to cut one stateâ€™s land and add it to another stateâ€™s territory in the modern times. The President stressed he would not let Azerbaijani territories to stay under occupation of other state.
â€œTerritorial integrity is not subject of discussion. We will not let out territories to be under occupationâ€.
The meeting is still working. A final declaration is to be adopted at the end of the meeting. /APA/