Pakistan, Azeri leaders agree on UN reform, Kashmir, Nagornyy-Karabakh

Pakistan TV, Islamabad
12 Apr 05

President Gen Pervez Musharraf says Pakistan will enhance defence,
political, commercial, and cultural relations with Azerbaijan. He said
that Pakistan valued Azerbaijan’s support on the issues of Kashmir and
expansion in UNSC [United Nations Security Council]. The president was
addressing joint news conference after talks with Azerbaijan President
Ilham Aliyev:

[Begin Musharraf recording, in English] I expressed my gratitude to
the president for their continuous support to Pakistan on the Kashmir
issue. I also, in very unequivocal and unambiguous terms, have assured
the president Pakistan’s continued support to Azerbaijan, to our
brothers in Azerbaijan, on the issue of Nagornyy-Karabakh, because we
feel that justice is on the side of Azerbaijan; and justice must be
done. We also identified that while our political relations are
excellent, the economic ties between our two countries – economic,
commercial, and trade ties between our two countries – is dismal; it
is extremely low. [words as heard] So, therefore, we need to
facilitate these ties through bringing the private sector of the two
countries into contact with each other. [End of recording]

The Azerbaijan president said that the two countries enjoyed very
cordial relations, and our talks today had been extremely positive:

[Begin Azerbaijan President Aliyev recording, in English] I am very
grateful to the president for invitation. Since Azerbaijan became an
independent country, we always (?felt) the support of Pakistan. (?At)
that time, relations between two countries developed very
successfully. We always support each other on the issues, for Pakistan
was a continuous support of our position in the resolution of
Armenian-Azerbaijan Nagornyy-Karabakh conflict. [words as heard] Bring
the level of economic development closer to the level of political
relations. We have a lot of things in common. We have to communicate
to see each other and to benefit from this (?high) level of
relationships and good spirit. [End of recording]

The two leaders held formal talks in highly cordial atmosphere. Their
[respective] delegations assisted the two leaders. At the talks, both
the leaders particularly exchanged views on promoting bilateral
ties. They said that the promotion of mutual cooperation in various
areas should also serve to reflect the close bilateral relations
between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.

President Musharraf briefed the Azerbaijan president on Pakistan’s
efforts for the resolution of outstanding issues, including Kashmir,
with India. Azerbaijan has always supported the Kashmir cause. The
Azerbaijan president said that his country greatly valued [its]
relations with Pakistan, and President Musharraf’s visit to Azerbaijan
last year had helped strengthen the bilateral ties further.

Earlier, the two leaders held one-on-one meeting. For mutual benefit,
both the leaders agreed to encourage contacts between the business
communities of the two countries about joint efforts to promote trade
and economic ties. [Passage omitted on formal welcome ceremony for
Ilham Aliyev at the President House]