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Chairman of Belgium-Azerbaijan inter-parliamentary friendship group: â€œAll people expelled from their homeland and turned into refugees, must return homeâ€ - INTERVIEW

25 April 2011 08:52 (UTC +04:00)

- Mr. Blanchard, how is the relationship between the Azerbaijani and Belgian parliaments developing today? What spheres does the cooperation cover mostly?

- I consider that one of the main goals of the parliaments is to contribute to the development of the economic projects carried out by Azerbaijan and Belgium. The two countries are geographically far from each other, but there are many common points uniting them. Both are the influential regional centers in the world. Situating between such large countries like Russia, Turkey and Iran, Azerbaijan has very important geopolitical place in the region. I would say that Azerbaijani economy has been dynamically developing and moving forward in the past five years. Azerbaijan is a nearby neighbor to Europe. Belgium is one of the founders of BeNeLux regional organization and surrounded by France, Germany, UK and other European countries. In this respect, both countries are interested in the strengthening of relations between them and of course, it could be realized via the relationship between the parliaments. I am planning to invite the Azerbaijani parliament delegation to Belgium in the near future. We will gather in Brussels to express our political will to push the relations between the countries forward. We will discuss all issues arisen from this relationship. Of course it would be honor for our delegation to be invited to Azerbaijan and to visit this country too. I was in Azerbaijan together with the observation mission during the last parliamentary elections. This is very interesting country, but unfortunately, it is less known in Europe. Azerbaijan deserves to be popular in all spheres.

- Did Belgium and its Federal Parliament, where you are represented in, discuss the issues related to Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh conflict?

- Currently Belgian parliament is busy with forming the countryâ€™s Constitution and government. We face with the serious problems in this sphere. But I am optimistic and I consider that we will find the solution of these problems soon. The foreign policy of our country has been directed toward the Middle East and North African countries recently. But we donâ€™t put the relations with other countries aside. For example, my participation at the conference on Nagorno Karabakh conflict today shows the interest of our parliament to this sensitive issue. The Nagorno Karabakh problem, which is called as a frozen conflict now, still exists in the region. Europe described its position on this issue for several times and called the situation unacceptable. I think Azerbaijan and Armenia have to launch a real dialogue. I should note it ruefully that this dialogue is not in the necessary level. For example, the Armenian participant said at the conference today that there are negotiation process and dialogue between the sides, but he didnâ€™t mention the form of negotiations and the fate of internally displaced persons. The main issue concerned us is the sufferings of the people in the region. We must always keep this issue on agenda. All people expelled from their homeland and turned into refugees, must return home.