Azeri leader says certain forces interested in spoiling ties with Georgia

Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
17 Dec 04

[Presenter] Several hours ago Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived
together with his family at precinct electoral commission No 6 of [Baku’s] Sabayil
district constituency No 29 and cast his vote.

[Passage omitted: reported details]

[Correspondent over video of Ilham Aliyev] The president also touched on the
current situation in the Nagornyy Karabakh peace process. Mr Aliyev said that
a new framework in the dialogue, i.e. the Prague process, was in the best
interests of Azerbaijan.

[Aliyev speaking to journalists] What is the Prague process? To put it
simply, it means a stage-by-stage solution. As you know, Azerbaijan’s position on t
his issue is definite and resolute. I am very glad that the forces engaged in
this issue are moving closer to this position. The stage-by-stage solution is a
way out of this problem. Therefore, the future negotiations should be held
only in this framework. I think if the talks are held constructively and if
Armenia does not abandon the position that has been agreed, as was the case in the
past, then we can reach some agreement.

[Correspondent] The head of state touched on the decision to ban trucks from
crossing the Azerbaijani-Georgian border. He said that representatives of the
two countries’ relevant bodies are continuing their investigation in Tbilisi.
However, Aliyev stressed again that the Baku government will not open the
border until it gets full guarantees that the cargo will not be transported to
Armenia.

[Aliyev] This will not be possible. We have put an end to this. We cannot
allow this at any cost. If a normal working system is created there, all borders
will open, of course. If this does not happen, then the border will remain
closed. We understand that this damages us and Georgia to some extent. But we
have no other way out.

[Correspondent] As for the recent problems of our compatriots in Georgia, the
president described these developments as a provocation aimed at damaging
relations between the two countries.

[Aliyev] It is also a fact that Azerbaijanis living in Georgia are Georgian
citizens. Of course, they should respect Georgian laws. They should not
tolerate infringements of the law or provocation. There are some forces wishing to
deal a blow to relations between Georgia and Azerbaijan. We know who these
forces are. Unfortunately, there are such forces inside Azerbaijan. But these
forces are mainly outside Azerbaijan. We cannot allow the strategic alliance
between Georgia and Azerbaijan to be damaged.

[Correspondent] The president also commented on discussions about Turkey’s
membership of the EU. Turkey should be a full member of the EU, the head of
state said. He added that double standards should not be applied in this issue and
no conditions should be set to the Ankara government.

Etibar Mammadov and Mirtofiq Miralioglu, “Son Xabar”.