Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Nov 19 2004

Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict Creates Obstacles for Economic
Development -President

President Ilham Aliyev, receiving a delegation led by Turkish State
Minister Gursad Tuzmen on Thursday, said he was satisfied with the
activity of the Azeri-Turkish inter-governmental commission.

Aliyev said that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the existing
efficient cooperation between the two countries’ business people and
that meetings between Turkish and Azeri entrepreneurs positively
affect strengthening of economic ties.

The President also pointed out the existing economic potential for
expanding these relations, which are further promoted by the
friendship between the two states.

Touching upon the Upper Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno
Karabakh, Aliyev said the conflict is a serious obstacle for
Azerbaijan’s economic development.

`We demand the international community, in particular, the
organizations directly involved in the conflict resolution to
approach the issue fairly and put an end to double standards.’