Official says cargo cannot go to Armenia through Azerbaijan – TV

Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
15 Dec 04

Presenter in studio] Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud
Mammadquliyev told a news conference in Baku today that the
Azerbaijani authorities had sufficient legal grounds to examine the
railway wagons detained on the Georgian-Azerbaijani border. He added
that this would not affect bilateral relations.

[Correspondent over video of railway wagons] Azerbaijan has both
political and legal grounds not to let the railway wagons into
Georgia. Having said this, Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud
Mammadquliyev mentioned that Azerbaijan’s refusal to allow goods bound
for Armenia to pass through its territory is reflected in a number of
documents.

[Mammadquliyev shown in an office] First of all, both Georgia and
Azerbaijan have joined the TRACECA [Transport Corridor
Europe-Caucasus-Asia] project. As you may know, there is a provision
there that the territory of Azerbaijan cannot be used for the transit
of goods bound for Armenia. We have a similar agreement with
Georgia. This is what disturbs us now. And we are trying to find a
solution to the problem together with Georgia.

[Correspondent] Mammadquliyev added that even though the solution to
the problem is taking time, this will not affect Azerbaijani-Georgian
relations.

The deputy minister also expressed his attitude to the work of some
foreign companies on the occupied Azerbaijani territories. Saying that
most of these companies are owned by representatives of the Armenian
lobby, Mammadquliyev added that Azerbaijan is taking serious sanctions
against these companies.

[Mammadquliyev] Even though these companies are registered in America
and elsewhere, they are purely Armenian. Of course, when such
information is confirmed, we appeal to the countries they officially
represent. And there are results because the governments of these
countries are threatening to close these companies’ bank accounts. We
will continue doing everything we can to that end.

[Correspondent] In conclusion, touching on the allocation of US
assistance to Nagornyy Karabakh, the deputy minister said Baku is
taking measures in that respect. America sees this as humanitarian aid
and we will try to prevent that. But this is not an easy task, end
quote.

Namiq Aliyev and Ilqar Abdullayev, “Son Xabar”.