Azeri pundit hails cancellation of NATO war games

Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
13 Sep 04

[Presenter] Baku’s ban on the visit of Armenian officers is the
most appropriate step, political analyst Vafa Quluzada has said,
adding that the cancellation of the exercises will not affect
Azerbaijani-NATO relations.

[Correspondent over video of Quluzada] The cancellation of NATO’s
Cooperative Best Effort – 2004 exercises will not have a negative
effect on Azerbaijani-NATO relations, independent political analyst
Vafa Quluzada has concluded. He believes that the North Atlantic
alliance itself is actually responsible for the current development
of the events.

[Vafa Quluzada] Azerbaijan and Armenia are at war and this is obvious
to NATO. However, NATO thought that the Azerbaijani people would
be indifferent to this and they would be able to conduct exercises
here. But the Azerbaijani people and public have demonstrated their
attitude to this event and I think that this protest has played
a significant role. At the same time, the Azerbaijani leadership,
the president took necessary measures.

[Correspondent] Quluzada believes that the latest incident will help
boost Azerbaijan’s image in the eyes of NATO.

[Quluzada] NATO will respect Azerbaijan even more and understand that
the two countries should not be kept in a state of war. NATO enjoys
big powers and can play an important role in putting an end to this
aggression against Azerbaijan immediately.

[Correspondent] The political analyst hails the creation of conditions
for the public to come up with own views, adding that this is also
big support for the authorities.

[Quluzada] If the authorities were against this alone, NATO
would have thought that the authorities did not want to host the
exercises. However, it was demonstrated to NATO that this was the
will of the Azerbaijani people and the Azerbaijanis did not want to
see Armenians on their soil.

[Correspondent] The pundit believes that the exercises have been
simply postponed. He thinks that irrespective of its next venue, it
is inappropriate for Azerbaijani troops to attend the events together
with Armenians.

Rasad Huseynov, Mirtofiq Miralioglu for “Son Xabar”.