AzerTag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Nov 27 2004

POTENTIAL OF AZERBAIJAN HIGH ENOUGH TO BECOME LEADER IN REGION
[November 27, 2004, 21:22:07]

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov has met
the delegation headed by the special representative of chairman of
Parliamentary Assembly of OSCE on the Nagorny Karabakh conflict Mr.
Goran Lennmark, November 27.

Minister Elmar Mammadyarov highly has estimated at the meeting the
attention rendered by representatives of the European countries and
the international organizations to the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny
Karabakh conflict. Having noted that Azerbaijan supports peace
settlement of the conflict and carries out certain work in this
direction, the Minister has added that attempts to change border by
force at the present stage is impossible.

Having emphasized that the policy illegally carried out recently by
Armenia directed on resettlement of the population in the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan, represents threat to process of peace
talks, the Minister has underlined importance of demonstration by the
international public of position of principle for the termination of
this illegal activity. Having noted that the independent policy
pursued by Azerbaijan which regained the sovereignty in 1991, during
more, than 13 years, is directed on strengthening in the country of
democracy, norms of international law, the western and European
values, Elmar Mammadyarov has emphasized that Azerbaijan tries to
define the activity in the field of internal and foreign policy in
the form corresponding to these values.

Especially having emphasized that the Republic gives great value to
question of integration into the European and Euro-Atlantic
structures, the Minister has noted adherence of Azerbaijan to the
“New Neighborhood Policy” of the European Union and to the “Plan of
activity of individual cooperation” of the NATO, having expressed
confidence that cooperation in the given direction would create
conditions for the further expansion and deepening of relations.

Having expressed his attitude to the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny
Karabakh conflict, Mr. Goran Lennmarker has emphasized impossibility
of existence in XXI century in Europe the occupied lands, having
expressed hope for settlement of the problem by negotiations. Having
stated that quick resolution to conflict will benefit not only to
Azerbaijan, but also all region, the visitor has especially
emphasized that in case of the statement of stability on the Southern
Caucasus, favorable opportunities for regional development will open.
Having noted expansion of the European Union on the southeast, Goran
Lennmarker has told: “One of the major forthcoming tasks consists in
that Southern Caucasus became further a part of Europe. Highly having
estimated potential of Azerbaijan possessing advantage among the
countries of Southern Caucasus on the population and economic
development to become the leader in region, the visitor has called
the Republic for closer cooperation with the countries of the
European Union.

At the meeting, the sides had comprehensive exchange of views on
other questions representing mutual interest.