Azerbaijan`s President receives PACE delegation - UPDATE

“Ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijan created one million refugees and IDPs we have in our country. Now, Nagorno-Karabakh is totally a mono structure. No Azerbaijani is left,” President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in a meeting with a delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

The Head of State pointed out 700 thousand of Azerbaijanis had been expelled from seven other districts of Azerbaijan, which had never been part of Nagorno-Karabakh and where Armenians never lived.

“This year, there was an assessment report of the field assessment mission of OSCE which visited the occupied territories. They reflected the picture of devastation. Everything – all our buildings, cemeteries, mosques – are ruined. Everything. There is no life. As you know, international organizations have adopted decisions and resolutions. United Nations Security Council, the top international body, adopted four resolutions demanding withdrawal of Armenian troops. Also, the Council of Europe, I think in 2005, adopted the resolution. The European Parliament and OSCE did so. But the question is not resolved,” he noted.

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“We hope that Armenia will listen to these voices and especially of the leaders of world superpowers saying that status quo is not acceptable,” President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in a meeting with a delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

The Head of State pointed out Armenia wants to keep the status quo forever and does not want to leave the occupied territories.

“They are trying in the negotiation process to achieve independence for Nagorno-Karabakh. But, Nagorno-Karabakh was never historically part of Armenia,” he said. 

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21.07.2011

Azerbaijan`s President Ilham Aliyev has received today a delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). The Head of State described the delegation`s visit to Azerbaijan as an opportunity to discuss issues regarding mutual relations. President Ilham Aliyev said Azerbaijan`s relationship with European structures was developing. He stressed the participation of the country in EU`s Eastern Partnership program.

The Head of State recalled the visit of the European Commission`s president José Manuel Barroso to Azerbaijan earlier this year. The Azerbaijani President also said future purposes were defined during his meetings last month in Belgium with presidents Barroso of the European Commission, Herman Van Rompuy of the European Union and Buzek of European Parliament.

President Ilham Aliyev also spoke of the history of Azerbaijan`s independence and establishment of political system and democratic institutions in the country. The Head of State stressed Azerbaijan`s economy had increased three times over the last 7 years. The President noted Azerbaijan had strong political and economic cooperation with all EU member states. He added as a partner of NATO, Azerbaijan contributes to peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan with not only its soldiers, but also transport routes.

Luca Volonte, EPP Chairman at PACE said the party he represents wishes to establish friendly relations with ruling New Azerbaijan Party. He said “we have the same interests to protect and promote important criteria such as human rights, family values, free society and liberal economy.” According to President Ilham Aliyev, political, social and economic reforms in Azerbaijan are being conducted in parallel. He noted political and democratic development was one of the main priorities. The President also noted representatives of all peoples and religions live freely in Azerbaijan.

On the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Head of State said it is a problem for not only Azerbaijan, but also the region. He added in spite of the UN Security Council`s 4 resolutions, documents of the European Parliament and OSCE, the conflict still remains unresolved.

The President noted Armenia does not want to leave the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, and tries to preserve the current status-quo and gain independence for Nagorno-Karabakh in the negotiations process. He underlined Nagorno-Karabakh was a historic territory of Azerbaijan.
The Head of State expressed confidence that Armenia will hear calls of powerful countries` leaders on inadmissibility of the status-quo, and Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity would be ensured.


/AzerTAc/