President Ilham Aliyev: Uzbekistan's position on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is very important for Azerbaijan - UPDATE - PHOTOS

Uzbekistan's position on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is very important for Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said at a briefing following an intergovernmental meeting as part of an official visit to Tashkent.

"I have already spoken about it and I want to emphasize once again that we are very grateful for the principled, consistent and firm position of Uzbekistan in terms of restoration of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and solution of all conflicts within the norms and principles of international law," the Azerbaijani president said.

Uzbek President Islam Karimov once again confirmed the unchanged position of Tashkent on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue during the negotiations. Uzbekistan has consistently advocated and continues to advocate for a peaceful, political settlement of the long-standing conflict. The main condition for the settlement is the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, he said.
Azerbaijan highly respects the independent course and basic regional and international policy of Uzbekistan, President Aliyev said.

"A principled position and its clear expression, even if someone does not like it, is a hallmark of Uzbekistan. Your country is respected in the world thanks to these features," he said.
Aliyev stressed that Azerbaijan considers Uzbekistan an ally as the two nations have very strong historical and cultural ties.

He recalled that the vote on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict held in the UN General Assembly in 2008 strengthened the international position of Azerbaijan and was a moment of truth.
"As a person who treats Uzbekistan and the fraternal Uzbek people with great sympathy and love, I was pleased that Uzbekistan was among those countries that were close to us," Aliyev said.

"Our countries were formed as independent self-sufficient countries that determine their own destiny and seek regional cooperation. Our countries have provided internal stability for economic development and social benefits, and seek to establish peace around us. It is impossible to feel safe if a flame burns around you," Aliyev said.
President Aliyev said that a disaster in Central Asia had been avoided thanks to Karimov's personal efforts.

"It demonstrates once again Uzbekistan's important role not only regionally but also globally. Today everything is so interconnected that the security of a region becomes a matter of global security," Aliyev said.

Returning to the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh, Aliyev stressed that Azerbaijan's territorial integrity was recognized by the world. "Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized by the entire world and the United Nations an integral part of Azerbaijan. The restoration of territorial integrity is essential to resolve the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," he said.

People's right to self-determination as promoted by Armenia can be successfully implemented within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, Aliyev said. The Helsinki Final Act states that people's right to self-determination must not violate the territorial integrity of countries. Moreover, the Armenian people gained independence in Azerbaijani historical lands. A second Armenian state in Azerbaijani historical lands is absolutely unacceptable.

"We will make every effort to restore the territorial integrity of our country. We are in the negotiation process. We have a constructive approach and expect the same constructivism from the Armenian side to achieve settlement. Nobody will gain by stalling the conflict. I think that all countries are interested in its settlement, which would fully comply with the norms and principles of international law," Aliyev said.

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10:35

Uzbekistan's position on Nagorno-Karabakh remains unchanged, Uzbek President Islam Karimov said on Monday at a news briefing in Tashkent after talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

Aliyev is on a two-day official visit to Uzbekistan at Karimov's invitation.

"Uzbekistan's position on Nagorno-Karabakh remains firm and unchanged. Uzbekistan has consistently advocated and continues to advocate for a peaceful, political solution to this years-long conflict. Uzbekistan considers the main condition for settlement the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan," Karimov said.

This position is consistent with the international norms and historical parallels, Karimov said.

Karimov said that what Azerbaijan wants to correspond with the interests of Armenia and Azerbaijan. He stressed that no one in the Caucasus is interested in resumption of military actions, and that any conflict would only exist to continue to "feed the forces that want to preserve the problem."

Karimov said that during the talks with the Azerbaijani leader, theparties discussed the situation in Afghanistan.

"We shared the view that Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, having universally recognized cultural, civilizational and religious potential, can play a positive role in supporting the values of enlightened tolerant Islam," Karimov said.

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10:13

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov hosted an official reception in honor of Azerbaijan`s President Ilham Aliyev in Tashkent.

The Heads of State made speeches at the event. President Ilham Aliyev`s official visit to Uzbekistan is underway.

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President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Uzbek Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyayev have attended the opening of the Azerbaijan culture center after Heydar Aliyev under the country's Embassy in Tashkent.

The Head of State put flowers at the Heydar Aliyev monument in front of the center.
In the facility`s foyer, the Head of State viewed an exhibition of works of late Azerbaijani sculptor Eynulla Aliyev who lived in Samarkand. Ilham Aliyev also met members of the Azerbaijani community in Uzbekistan.

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President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has visited the Hazrat Imam Mosque complex in Tashkent.
The mosque was built in 2007 by the order of President Islam Karimov.

President Ilham Aliyev viewed Muyi-Mubarak madrasah and the library of the Uzbekistan Muslims` Department here.

The Azerbaijani leader signed the complex`s guest book.

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Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan visited the Independence square complex in Tashkent.

The Azerbaijani President laid a wreath at the Independence and Humanism Monument.

The Uzbek leader informed President Ilham Aliyev of the Independence square complex.

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Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan visited the Palace of Forums in Tashkent on Monday.

The Azerbaijani leader was informed about the Palace. The 2000-seat Palace is designed to host state and international events.

Mr. Karimov informed President Ilham Aliyev about land improvement work at the Amir Teymur Garden near the Palace.

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President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev visited Monday the building of the Uzbek parliament`s upper chamber, Senate.

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov briefed the Azerbaijani leader on the building which was constructed three years ago.

The Senate is composed of 100 members. President Ilham Aliyev familiarized himself with the conditions created for senators.

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Sept. 27

Following an expanded meeting, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have signed several bilateral documents in Tashkent. Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Islam Karimov have made joint press statements in Tashkent.

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17:39

Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan met in private.

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17:18

Following a one-on-one meeting, Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan held talks here Monday in the presence of both countries' delegations.

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14:15

President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan was officially welcomed Monday in front of the residence of the President of Uzbekistan. A ceremonial guard of honor was lined up in honor of the Azerbaijan leader.

Uzbek President Islam Karimov welcomed his Azerbaijani counterpart in front of the residence.
The Presidents posed for photographs in the residence .

The state anthems were performed. The Presidents walked past the guard of honor.

The state and governmental delegations on both sides were introduced to each other.
President Islam Karimov also introduced to President Aliyev heads of diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited in Uzbekistan.

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12:35

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev has left today for an official visit to Uzbekistan. At the Heydar Aliyev International Airport, the President was seen off by Prime Minister Artur Rasizade, chief of Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev and Baku mayor Hajibala Abutalybov.


/AzerTAc, Trend/


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Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev pays official visit to Uzbekistan