Azerbaijan to integrate into world and European structures

ITAR-TASS, Russia
May 28 2004

BAKU, May 27 (Itar-Tass) — Azerbaijan sees its future in integrating
into the world and European structures, Azeri President Ilkham Aliyev
said in Baku on Thursday evening at the reception devoted to the
Republic’s Day observed in Azarbaijan on May 28.

“This is our strategic choice and we adhere to it”, the Azeri president
said. He noted that the processes taking place in Azerbaijan evoke
a positive response in the world. This strengthens Azerbaijan’s
positions in the international arena, the president said.

The Azeri leader expressed satisfaction with the fact that
international organizations had increased attention to the settlement
of the Karabakh conflict of late. “We are sure that it is only with
active participation of the world public that the conflict can be
resolved”, Ilkham Alilyev said.

He said he is glad the negotiationg process resumed after a long
intermission and expressed the hope that it will be possible to
achieve a peace treaty on the Karabakh problem through talks. “This
agreement must be based on international law and the restoration of
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity”, the president said.

He also noted he hopes for an early settlement of the conflict with
the participation of the Minsk Group of the OSCE on Nagorno-Karabakh
acting as a mediator, and of other international structures.

Ilkham Aliyev also said Azergbaijan implements successfully measures
to reinforce the army. Much attention is given to this area, he said.
“It is a duty of every citizen to help the army and to support lt”,
he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress