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Ramiz Mehdiyev: â€œThe joining of terrorist groups with criminal organizations of various profiles, operating within the so-called â€œgray zonesâ€, creates huge potential for crime and is one of the most dangerous tendenciesâ€

12 October 2010 12:15 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. â€œI have to note with regret that all mentioned manifestations of transnational organized crime did affect Azerbaijan as wellâ€, said Chief of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan, Academician Ramiz Mehdiyev during the discussions â€œTransnational crime, interconnection of its most dangerous typesâ€ at the First International Meeting of High Representatives Responsible for Security Matters in Sochi on October 5-6, 2010, APA reports.Mehdiyev said the advantageous geographical location of our country in the crossroads of trade, transport and communication routes between Europe and Asia, sustainable development of modern economy, large-scale energy, transport and other projects are not only creating favorable economical environment, but also attract various criminal structures, which are in permanent search for new routes and product markets, and avail themselves of every opportunity to expand their illegal activity and increase their revenues: â€œTherefore, it is natural that the Concept of National Security and Military Doctrine of Azerbaijan name international terrorism, illegal trafficking in drugs and arms, illegal migration and human trafficking as the threats to national security of our country, alongside with the continuing occupation of 20 percent of the territory of Azerbaijan by the Republic of Armenia. It was not by chance that I mentioned the threats deriving from international organized criminal activity in the context of the occupation of the part of the territory of Azerbaijan. The joining of terrorist groups with criminal organizations of various profiles, operating within the so-called â€œgray zonesâ€, creates huge potential for crime and is one of the most dangerous tendencies. Such zone has been created in the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven other adjacent regions of Azerbaijan occupied by the armed forces of Armenia. Incoming operative information and the facts proved in a procedural manner allow to state that this territory, including 132 km of the border between Azerbaijan and Iran which are under the de facto control by Armenia, has been actively used for production, transit of and trafficking in drugs, arms and human beings, illegal migration, redeployment and concealment of terrorists, money laundering and other dangerous types of transnational crime. Staying beyond the sphere of national and international law, this zone, like the other such territories, remains inaccessible for adequate and timely reaction to the mentioned threats. Therefore, we regard the issues connected to the settlement of Armenia-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as a part of the work to ensure the national and regional security and prevent terrorist threat and other threatsâ€.

Ramiz Mehdiyev noted that being an active member of anti-terrorism coalition, Azerbaijan has been effectively participating in combating terrorism: â€œOver recent years, cells of Al-Qaeda, Hizbullah, Taliban and some other terrorist and extremist organizations have been neutralized in our country owing to efficient work of our special services. Trafficking of drugs and arms in great quantities has been prevented. We have attained considerable success in countering illegal migration and trafficking in human beings. In broad terms, the stable political situation, ongoing strengthening of democratic institutions and building of civil society, as well as considerable financial and other resources allocated for fighting this evil contribute to the maintaining of controlled criminogenic situation with positive trend in our country. It is clear, however, that efforts of a single state, no matter how rich its economic, human and other resources are, are not enough to stand against transnational criminal organizations. I believe, the conclusion is evident â€“ there is no alternative to the strengthening of international cooperation in this field. The cooperation must be strengthened at all levels â€“ bilateral, regional and global, and should cover such areas as data collection for analyzing roots, mechanisms and consequences of transnational crime, mutual legal assistance, confiscation and return of assets, extradition and othersâ€.