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Elmar Mammadyarov: â€œUnfortunately Armenia does not demonstrate constructiveness in the negotiation process and tries to lengthen the talks, but we cannot let it happenâ€

28 December 2010 16:01 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Lachin Sultanova-APA. Azerbaijanâ€™s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarovâ€™s interview to Al Hawadis magazine of Lebanon (abridged)

- How do you assess Azerbaijanâ€™s relations with Arab states?

- Azerbaijan attaches special importance to the development of the relations and extension of cooperation with the Arab states. Our political, economic and cultural relations with the Arab states are developing. Azerbaijan has embassies in most of the Arab countries. Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Libya, the Kingdom of Morocco, Iraq and Palestine have embassies in our country. The embassies of a number of Arab states will be opened in Azerbaijan. The decisions of the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to open embassies in most Arab countries once more testify that the head of state attaches special importance to the extension of our relations with the Arab states.

Friendly relations of Azerbaijani President with the heads of the Arab states pave the way for the development of cooperation between our countries and peoples. President Ilham Aliyevâ€™s visits to the Arab states, the visits of the heads of the Arab states to Azerbaijan, mutual visits on the levels of parliament speakers, ministers are of great importance.

Azerbaijan is interested in the extension of the relations with the League of Arab States and the Gulf Cooperation Council, efforts continue in this direction.

Our country has always given political and economic support to the people and government of Palestine, this support will be continued in future.

Azerbaijan as an OIC member is actively participating in all the events of this organization. Our country hosted a number of events of OIC. Last year Azerbaijan officially offered to hold the 13th Islamic Conference Summit in Baku in 2014.

We have always felt the support of the Arab states among most Islamic countries concerning Armeniaâ€™s military aggression against Azerbaijan. Arab states supported Azerbaijanâ€™s independence, territorial integrity, protested against the occupation of its territories, demonstrated principled and fair position, supported our countryâ€™s fair position in the votes held over this problem within the framework of the international organizations, particularly in the UN and OIC.

But we should admit that the level of the economic relations between Azerbaijan and the Arab states falls behind the level of the political relations. Our aim is to improve the level of the economic relations to the level of the political relations.

We consider that there are broad opportunities to invest in the oil and non-oil sectors in Azerbaijan. There is a need to improve economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Arab states, extend the participation of the businesspeople, investors from the Arab states in the projects on the socio-economic development in our republic and hold business forums.

Moreover, there is a need to extend the cultural relations. It will be one of our major tasks to organize days of Azerbaijani culture in the Arab states and introduce the rich culture of the Arab people to the Azerbaijani people.

- In parallel, what can you say about diplomatic relations with Israel? How do you balance the existing relations with those Arab states?

- Azerbaijan is situated in geopolitical territory and it is multinational country, where different religious confessions function. Our country has been famous for strong tolerance atmosphere so far and this tradition will last forever.

Azerbaijan is a peaceloving state and established its policy on the basis of these principles. It has friendly and cooperation relations with all states which have favorable ties towards our country and nation.

Representatives of different nations, as well as Jewish community have lived and are living in Azerbaijan for many centuries. That community plays an active role in social-political activity of the country. Though a lot of Azerbaijani citizens of Jewish origin migrated to Israel, they have not severed connections with historical homeland. It must be noted that Israel was one of the first states, which recognized independence of Azerbaijan.

- What is your viewpoint on current situation in the Middle East?

- We have always concerned about the situation in the Middle East. Azerbaijan has always supported fraternal Palestinian nationâ€™s attempts towards establishment of stabile, independent and sovereign Palestinian state. Steps taken in the direction of solution to Palestine-Israel conflict and restoration of direct negotiations process assumes great importance for stability in the region.

Worrying about deep tortures of people living in Golan highlands, we welcome commitment to maintenance of lasting peace in the region and attempts for restoration of complete sovereignty on the occupied territories of Syria.

At the same time, Azerbaijan supports all efforts made in the direction of restoration of peace and stability in the Middle East, as well as steps taken towards solution to Israel-Palestine conflict, efforts for restoration of stability in Iraq and maintenance of integrity of the county, efforts for transference of the region from nuclear weapon to free zone, discussions conducted for achievement of national reconciliation and maintenance of stability in Palestine and welcomes regulation of all problems on the basis of international law norms and principles. The viewpoint on current state in the Middle East must remain common, stable and unchanged. And it is the solution based on providence of national interests of regional countries, regulation of all problems on the ground of international norm and principles.

- Which stage have you achieved in regulation process of Nagorno Karabakh conflict?

- Today, conflicting sides - Armenia and Azerbaijan continue negotiations within OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship. Position of Azerbaijani side is univocal and it has been repeatedly announced that Nagorno Karabakh conflict may be solved only within the framework of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Aggressive forces of Armenia must withdraw from all occupied territories, Azerbaijani refugees ad IDPs must return to homelands, all infrastructures and communications must be restored and opened and finally Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of Nagorno Karabakh must define their self-determination within Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, Armenia does not demonstrate constructiveness in the negotiation process and tries to lengthen the talks, but we cannot let it happen. Azerbaijanâ€™s just position is supported on a world scale and Arab states play important role in this support.