RIA Novosti, Russia
Aug 19 2004

AZERBAIJAN DEFERS TO NATO ON ENTRANCE QUESTIONS

MOSCOW, August 19 (RIA Novosti) – Questions concerning Azerbaijan’s
entry into NATO should be addressed to NATO member-countries, Foreign
Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mamedyarov said at a press conference in
Moscow.

“I am always asked whether Azerbaijan wants to enter NATO,” he said.
“But this question should be addressed to NATO member-countries.”

The minister said that it was naive to talk about the possibility of
creating NATO military bases in Azerbaijan.

“It is very naive to think that bases can appear overnight,” he said.
He reminded the audience of the difficulties in coordinating all the
issues related to deploying military bases and that the issue
required a parliamentary decision.

Touching on military and technical cooperation with Russia, he said
that this topic was discussed at his negotiations with Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov yesterday.

The minister said that Azerbaijan was cooperating with Russia in the
military and technical sphere and that Azerbaijan leased the
Gabalinskaya Radar to Russia. He also said that the two defense
ministries maintained exchanges.

Baku believes that Russia should increase its participation in
resolution of the Karabakh conflict “on the basis of the norms of
international laws.”

“We expect a significant statement from the cochairmen of the Minsk
OSCE Group in the settlement of the conflict,” the minister pointed
out.

He underscored the firmness of the principle of territorial
integrity. “Other questions, such as self-determination, can be
discussed,” Mr. Mamedyarov added.

He also said that Azerbaijan “does not believe in the idea of ‘frozen
conflicts’.” The minister reiterated the position of Azerbaijan: the
conflict should be resolved peacefully.