Baku Today
Aug 8 2005
No Talks Held on US military Bases in Washington – Azeri Official
Baku Today / Assa Irada 08/08/2005 17:10
No talks were held or agreements signed on the stationing of US
military bases in Azerbaijan during Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov’s meetings in Washington, he told a meeting arranged at
the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on Thursday.
Mammadyarov, who has completed his four-day visit to the United
States, said in his report on Azerbaijan’s foreign policy that the
integration into European organizations is a part of the country’s
foreign political course.
The Minister noted that Azerbaijan, which is successfully
implementing projects on production and transportation of Caspian
natural resources, will spend its oil revenues to develop the non-oil
sector.
Mammadyarov said that during his meetings at the White House and
Pentagon, American officials welcomed President Ilham Aliyev’s policy
based on democratic and economic reforms. `The fruitful discussions
reaffirmed that US and Azeri governments have common positions on a
number of issues,’ he said.
The Minister elaborated on the course of peace talks on settling the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper Garabagh. The negotiations are
held in very challenging conditions. Azerbaijan will always adhere to
the principle of territorial integrity, he said.
`Armenians residing in Upper Garabagh are full-fledged citizens of
Azerbaijan. As citizens of a democratic country, they will be able to
benefit from revenues acquired through energy projects after the
Upper Garabagh conflict is settled peacefully.’
Mammadyarov said US officials highly appreciate President Aliyev’s
decree on parliamentary elections. 3,000 observers, with half of them
being foreigners, will observe the poll in November.
`We do not back away from such transparency, as democracy is
Azerbaijan’s own choice.’
In reply to a question about Azerbaijan’s future relations with Iran,
Mammadyarov said Iran’s main political course is determined by
Ayatollah Khomeini. Azerbaijan therefore does not expect any changes
in this country’s foreign policy.
On the last day of his visit, the Minister held an informal meeting
with former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage.
Mammadyarov also met with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and
deputy national security adviser Jack Crouch. He also addressed a
roundtable attended by representatives of the National Democratic
Institute, International Republican Institute, International
Foundation for Election Systems, Department of State and National
Security Council as well as businessmen at the Washington-based U.S.
Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce.