Foreign

Home page

Foreign

Ziyafat Asgarov: We havenâ€™t raised such an issue before anyone that we join a union, and then Karabakh is returned to us

17 October 2014 14:01 (UTC +04:00)

Asgarov said Azerbaijan has good relations with the European Union and the European Parliament as well.

“We don’t differentiate between choosing to build higher relations with anyone. Azerbaijan is undergoing such a phase of development that many countries, including Russia increased interest in our country. Of course, we build our foreign policy on national interests,” he said.

Touching upon the reasons that Azerbaijan has not yet joined the Customs Union of the Eurasian Economic Union, Asgarov said Azerbaijan prefers bilateral relations. When asked about ideas that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict would be settled if Azerbaijan joins the Eurasian Economic Union, Asgarov said: “We’re not going to join any union for Karabakh. Karabakh is the kind of issue that can not be traded. Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven adjacent districts are Azerbaijan’s ancient lands. We haven’t raised such an issue before anyone that we join a union, and then Karabakh is returned to us”.

He also added: “Each meeting between the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents is very important although there’s no significant progress. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs should increase efforts on Karabakh talks. But Azerbaijan’s principal position remains unchanged. The talks are underway provided that Armenia should pull its armed units out of Azerbaijan’s Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven neighboring districts.”