Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
April 9, 2004

MEETING AT BAKU STATE UNIVERSITY

Council of Europe Secretary General Walter Schwimmer met with
students and teaching staff of the Baku State University, April 8.
Warmly welcoming the guest, Rector of the University, Corresponding
member of the National Academy of Science, Prof. Abel Maharramov
first familiarized the meeting participants with Mr. Schwimmer’s
biography, and then informed him in detail on the history and
activity of the Baku University. He further said: `We want youth of
small states like their coevals in super states to face the future
with confidence, without war and pain of lands loss, and hold worthy
place in the globalizing world. I believe the Council of Europe will
take efforts to create such conditions in the country.’ The Rector
expressed hope for fair solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. `We
are confident that the way of integration into Europe defined by
nationwide leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev will be further
continued under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, who won
convincing victory in October elections held in democratic and
transparent atmosphere,’ Mr. Abel Maharramov added. Having thanked
for the kind words, COE Secretary General Walter Schwimmer told of
the obligations and commitments Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia had
assumed upon joining the Council of Europe, explained what does
European means, touched upon the history of wars and conflicts saying
that all wars and conflicts end with peace. The Secretary General
reminded that in May 1994, seize fire was established between
Azerbaijan and Armenia, and cited the city of Strasbourg as an
example demonstrating that conflicting sides reach peace after bloody
battles. `This is the very essence of Europe,’ he said. Afterwards,
Walter Schwimmer responded to the questions from the audience.