Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
Nov. 1, 2004

DELEGATION OF ESTONIA MET WITH CHAIRMAN OF STATE COMMITTEE ON AFFAIRS
OF AZERBAIJANIS LIVING IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES
[November 01, 2004, 19:49:30]

On 1 November, the Parliamentary delegation of Estonia now visiting
Azerbaijan met with Chairman of the State Committee on Affairs of
Azerbaijanis Living in Foreign Countries Nazim Ibrahimov.

The latter noted that over 50 mln Azerbaijanis are living today in 70
countries, and the Committee founded by the Decree of national leader
of Azerbaijan late President Heydar Aliyev is commissioned to be a
coordinating body for uniting compatriots to solve a lot of existing
problems. One of the today’s most important issues the State Committee
is now engaged in is to create an Azerbaijani lobby in the countries of
their residence.

Touching upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh,
Mr. Nazim Ibrahimov described it as most complicated and acute problem
of the country. Twenty percent of our lands are under Armenian
occupation and over one million people are refugees. As he stressed
strategic goal of Azerbaijan is integration into the European
structures, and Estonian experience is very important for us, he said.

Head of the Estonian delegation Marco Michelson noted for his part that
Estonia as a former Soviet country is well aware of the problems of the
newly independent states, and can share its experience concerning
integration into Europe.

We are successfully cooperating with delegations of the Azerbaijani
parliamentarians in the Council of Europe and other international
structures, he said.