Domestic

Home page

Domestic

Baku hosts international conference â€œAzerbaijanâ€™s integration into Euro-Atlantic space and democratic electionsâ€ - UPDATED

Baku hosts international conference â€œAzerbaijanâ€™s integration into Euro-Atlantic space and democratic electionsâ€ - <font color=red>UPDATED </font>

24 June 2008 11:09 (UTC +04:00)

Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Hulusi Kilic spoke about the development of Azerbaijan-NATO relations. He said Azerbaijan began its great energy policy in 1994 and cooperation with NATO would make significant contribution to Azerbaijanâ€™s integration into Euro-Atlantic space. Kilic said Turkey supported Azerbaijan in its integration into Euro-Atlantic space. â€œWe believe that upcoming presidential elections will meet the democratic standards. This election will promote the development of democracy in the South Caucasus and the international confidence to Azerbaijanâ€. The Ambassador also touched upon the non-resolution of Nagorno Karabakh problem yet. â€œThe international community should pay attention to this conflict and support its resolution within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijanâ€. Head of Azerbaijani Mission to NATO Kamil Khasiyev spoke about the history of Azerbaijan-NATO relations. He said Azerbaijan was carrying out more than 50 NATO projects currently. â€œAzerbaijan and NATO hold a political dialogue over the Nagorno Karabakh conflictâ€. NATO Assistant General Secretary for the Public Diplomacy Division Jean-Francois Bureau said the cooperation with NATO was a part of Azerbaijanâ€™s integration into Euro-Atlantic space and its institutions. â€œWe are very satisfied with this cooperation. IPAP first phase has already been completed and Azerbaijan has achieved success in this stage. The second phase of the plan will also be carried out. We are hopeful that Azerbaijan will be one of the NATOâ€™s most successful partners. We, on behalf of NATO, support NATO-Azerbaijan cooperationâ€. Jean-Francois Bureau said the upcoming presidential elections were very important for Azerbaijan. US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Anne Derse said Azerbaijan adopted a strategy of integration into Euro-Atlantic space. US support Azerbaijanâ€™s integration into Euro-Atlantic space and its independence and sovereignty. Anne Derse reminded that this year is a year of election in both USA and Azerbaijan. â€œThis is opportunity for the strengthening of such main values like democracy and supremacy of law, our governments aligned with. Free and fair elections in the democratic countries donâ€™t mean only the voting and accounting of votes. The elections determine the national priorities of the peoples. The peoples should be granted with the right of criticism to make their choices. This is main part of the democratic process giving an election right to the peoplesâ€.