Conference dedicated to results of half of 2005 held presided by Ilham Aliyev

This was informed to APA from the press-service of the President’s Office. I.Aliyev made detailed speech in connection with the results of 6 months.

The president informed in his speech that the first half of 2005 was successful for Azerbaijan in general. Our internal and foreign policies supplemented each other and served providing of the national interests of Azerbaijan to the maximum degree. Azerbaijan continued its foreign policy during passed 6 months, and more strengthened its relations with the neighbor countries: “I had many meetings with the heads of the states and governments of the neighbor countries and we can say that these relations provide interests of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan’s collaboration with the international organizations strengthened more. The GUAM organization Azerbaijan is the member of is living its new period now and this gladdens us very much. Azerbaijan has very active role within GUAM. I hope that influence of the organization will increase in the future. This meets our interests”.

The president said that collaboration between Azerbaijan and the European Union speeded and informed that new neighborhood policy is already applied in our country, too: “Realities and objective facts were reflected in the resolution adopted by the Council of Europe in connection with the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict in January of this year, the most important is that this resolution can stimulate the talks process. Azerbaijan also takes an active part in the Organization of the Islamic Conference. Of course, our main task and problem in the foreign policy is solution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Some improvements are observed in this direction during the past 6 months. OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs have become more active. The co-chairs are visiting the region, new issues are debated, and the position of Azerbaijan is strengthened in the process of negotiations. One of the most important steps in this direction is the Resolution adopted by the Council of Europe in January this year. Armenia committed aggression against Azerbaijan. This matter was raised before the international organizations almost for the first time and it was shown that, one member county of Council of Europe  committed aggression against another member country of the organization and is pursuing aggressive policy. Ethnic clearing policy of Armenia against Azerbaijan was also denounced in the Resolution. The Resolution contains information about the conditions of more than a million refugees. This Resolution is objective. It will influence on the process of talks and it is influencing at the moment. On the other hand, Fact-finding Mission of OSCE held monitoring in the occupied territories on our invitation. We were insistent on arrival of this Mission to Azerbaijan. However, Armenian side was protesting to it. We achieved this and the report contains information we have presented to the world community. The facts on illegal settling of Armenians in the occupied territories have been revealed and of course, it caused great resonance in the world. Our efforts are on in the frame of the UN and the matter of illegal settling of Armenians in the occupied territories is on the agenda of the UN. We have strengthened out position in the negotiations. The talks are held in the frame of Prague process.

It means, the approach which is always insisted on by Azerbaijan- solving the problem by stages is accepted by the Minsk Group and the sides holding talks-Armenia and Azerbaijan  are the participants of this process. However, great efforts have been made, great diplomatic stapes have been taken to involve Armenia into this process. We achieved it and know that the expression “Prague process” is simply used instead of the words “solution in stages”. This should not irritate Armenia and Armenians. But this is reality that the conflict can only be solved based on the following principles: occupied territories must be released from the invader forces, refugees and internally displaced persons must return to their home lands – the regions situated in the outskirts of Nagorno Karabakhand Nagorno Karabakhitself. After this the status of Nagorno Karabakhcan be determined and the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakhcan be given the highest autonomy within Azerbaijan. Our position does not change and this position is grounded on all international juridical norms”.

/APA/