Today.Az » Politics » Peace process moves not a jot after election of new President in Armenia: Azerbaijani FM
25 May 2009 [12:30] - Today.Az
Interview Trend News with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.
Trend News: Do you think there may occurred difficulties in Azerbaijan in connection with participation in the EU Eastern Partnership? CIS Executive Secretary Sergey Lebedev has recently made a statement that CIS countries and those wishing to participate in the Eastern Partnership will have to choose where to go and how to act.
Elmar Mammadyarov: Absolutely do not see any problem, because first the Eastern Partnership is a design of all previous experience of relations between Azerbaijan and the European Union and European countries, which are not even included in the EU. Signing the agreement on the Eastern Partnership is a formalization of bilateral relations of Azerbaijan and the European Union. While doing so, we always stress that, in addition to Eastern Partnership, Azerbaijan will continue to strengthen its bilateral relations with the European Union member states. In this context, it seems to me that the Eastern Partnership, which we regard as a very interesting prospect for the development of Azerbaijan, is in our national interest.
Q: What further steps will be taken on the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict during the next meeting between Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in St. Petersburg? Will any document on the matter be signed?
A: In St. Petersburg, the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan will continue to discuss those issues that continue to remain being on the agenda of the peace settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I would very much wish to hear the notes of constructivism by Armenia. Despite the development of the new situation in the region, Armenia, unfortunately, began to have a negative pressure on the peace process." We have reached everything in the peace process with the former administration of Armenia with the current administration in Armenia, we have not achieved anything. As a person leading the negotiations, I can not say that we have made even some progress in current issues
The United States with the advent of the new administration began to influence the processes in the region directly through the OSCE Minsk Group, and indirectly through other countries. Washington is responsible for progress in the settlement of the conflict, and the country has a direct impact on the situation in the region. However, we have not advanced even in the slightest from the date of coming into power a new president in Armenia.
Q: Azerbaijan is a signatory of Declaration on the Southern Corridor project at the Energy Summit in Prague. What are country's hope for this project, and in particular, to the Nabucco gas pipeline? How would you assess the implementation of this project?
A: Azerbaijan has several opportunities to export own gas to the European markets, and all these opportunities are open. There is an opportunity to develop relations with Russia. There are numerous other versions which should be carefully considered, basing on expediency, stability and predictability. Both risks and profitability are taking into account while examining these or those projects.
Azerbaijan is also interested in the South Corridor project on which the Prague declaration was signed. Development of the South Corridor, of course, meets our national interests, as we could form a prosperous and stable region. Such kind of the projects favor not only development of economy, but also they are important from a political view
Q: Will Azerbaijan render an aid to Islamic countries?
A: Azerbaijan will expand material and humanitarian aid to Islamic countries, which are in conflict zone.
Azerbaijan participates in all financial programs, in particular in the program in favour of Palestine.
After participating in the conference in favor of the Gaza Strip, Azerbaijan undertook recovering of one of the damaged social facilities in Gaza. We are holding negotiations with the Palestinian Government through mediation of our Embassy in Egypt to define which facility we will recover.
A total of $4 billion was collected by Islamic countries, the United States and the European Union for Gaza in the conference in Sharm-el Sheikh in March.
Azerbaijan is closely cooperating with Iraq in the financial and humanitarian aid spheres.
The Heydar Aliyev Foundation has built a number of schools in Pakistan, which is under a martial law.
/Trend News/
|
|
