Azerbaijan protests at transit of goods to Armenia via Georgia

Trend news agency
29 Nov 04

BAKU

Azerbaijan is not going to let goods into Georgia if they are
redirected to Armenia, Azerbaijan’s First Deputy Prime Minister Abbas
Abbasov told reporters on 29 November.

Abbasov said that under a number of bilateral and international
agreements Azerbaijan has signed, the country allows its territory to
be used for transit and transportation of various types of cargo on
condition that its national interests are protected. Azerbaijan’s sole
stipulation is that its territory should not be used for transit of
goods to Armenia, he said.

Abbasov said that Azerbaijan has signed agreements to that effect also
with Georgia, which has to meet its commitments. However, he said,
there are some reports that Azerbaijan’s territory is being used for
transit of fuel to Armenia. The issue was discussed with the Georgian
authorities in Tbilisi last week.

“Georgia is our friend and partner. Azerbaijan has no claims to
Georgia, but we should not let this to happen. We have demanded that
the Georgian authorities put a strict ban on the transit of goods to
Armenia via Azerbaijan,” Abbasov said. “If the process persists,
Azerbaijan will prevent any goods from entering Georgia,” he said.