Azerbaijan to recognize Turkish Cyprus if UN plan fails – Azeri leader

ANS TV, Baku
15 Apr 04

[Presenter] If Northern Cyprus says yes and the Greek Cypriot side
says no during the forthcoming referendum in Cyprus [on a UN plan to
reunify Cyprus], Azerbaijan will be one of the first countries to
recognize the [Turkish] Republic of Northern Cyprus. This sensational
statement was made by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at a meeting
with the local media within the framework of his visit to Turkey. Our
special correspondent Qanira Pasayeva reports from Turkey. Hello,
Qanira.

[Qanira Pasayeva over the phone] Hello, Leyla. First, President Ilham
Aliyev had a luncheon with the heads of the Turkish mass media
today. Many issues were discussed during the luncheon. The Nagornyy
Karabakh problem was discussed most of all.

I should first note that we do not have enough information about the
event because Azerbaijani journalists were barred from it. They were
not even allowed to listen so as to know what was being discussed. But
I had a telephone conversation with the editor-in-chief of Zaman
newspaper. I learnt from him what issues had been discussed. He said
that the main topics were the Nagornyy Karabakh problem and the
current talks with Armenia. He said that Ilham Aliyev had voiced an
interesting idea. If Armenia and Azerbaijan are allowed to resolve the
conflict on their own, the problem can be resolved, Aliyev said. Asked
in what sense he said this, he said in all senses.

The president made his most interesting statement about the Turkish
community of Cyprus, i.e. the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
officially recognized by Turkey. He said that if Northern Cyprus says
yes and Southern Cyprus says no, Azerbaijan will be one of the first
countries to recognize it [Northern Cyprus]. This is what the
president said. And the president’s statement is currently in the
focus of attention.

[Passage omitted: Correspondent repeats previous sentences]

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress