ILHAM ALIEV SUPPORTS IRAN
by Oleg Komotsky

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
August 29, 2005, Monday

Novye Izvestia, August 25, 2005, p. 4

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev made two statements not so very
pleasant for Washington in the interview for the British TV-channel
“Sky News”. First, he deflated the rumours that American military
bases may be located in his republic. Second, he openly spoke against
the eventual forced settlement of the Iran problem. (…)

Speaking on the air of the British TV-channel “Sky News”, Mr. Aliev
said, “I must say that the information about location of foreign
military bases in Azerbaijan does not correspond to reality. It’s
no more than rumors”. At that, according to his words, rumors of
this kind are sometimes “spread on purpose”. “We are holding no
negotiations on the matter, and I do not believe that location of
this or that foreign military base in our country will contribute to
its security”, highlighted the president. However, Ilham Aliev noted,
the Americans themselves never advanced such an initiative, and to
the contrary, they declared that military presence on the territory
of this Transcaucasian republic does not enter their plans.

At the same time the Azerbaijan president put it clear that Baku
stands against forced settlement of the Iran problem, which is
in no way excluded by the US President (George Bush said in the
interview for the Israel television). At that, Aliev referred to the
experience of his country: he said, in spite of more than ten-year
occupation of the proper Azerbaijan territories by Armenia, Baku
restrains from returning its lands by force. “As of today Azerbaijan
tries to settle the conflict peacefully, we have a right to appeal
to other countries asking to refuse any violation”, noted the
president. Besides, according to his words, military actions against
Iran can undermine security, including that of his country. “Why
should we be indifferent to a new conflict near our frontier? Will
it be any good for Azerbaijan’s security? It won’t”, emphasized Aliev.

Meanwhile, this week, the USA paid special attention to the CIS
countries, in particular to Central Asia republics, and especially
to military aspects of collaboration. So, last Monday, Head of the
USA Central Commandment (SENTKOM) General John Abizaid arrived in
the capital of Turkmenistan Ashkhabad. He held negotiations with
Defense Minister of the country Agageldy Mamedgeldyev, and the next
day the general was accepted by President Saparmurat Niyazov. To all
appearances, Abizaid mission was to persuade the Turkmen leader that
the American military presence in the region aimed to stabilize the
situation in the neighbor Afghanistan. The SENTKOM head highlighted,
Washington does not tend to use its military bases for overturning
of the local regimes. (…)

Apart from Turkmenistan, the United States paid much attention to
Kazakhstan. Foreign Minister of this country Kasymzhomart Tokaev
was welcomed in Washington by his American colleague Condoleezza
Rice. Though the negotiations were held behind shut doors, and
journalists were forbidden to ask any questions, the character of
the conversation can be judged at least from the press release of
the Kazakh Foreign Ministry. There the head of the American State
Department calls Kazakhstan “the status leader of the Central Asian
region”, representing “the optimal development model” for other
states. Something of the kind was stated by Rumsfield, who Tokaev met
on Tuesday. “Being the most dynamic and economically developed state
in Central Asia, Kazakhstan plays an important role in securing the
region’s stability and security”, emphasized the Pentagon’s head,
mentioning that the USA sees Astana as “a deserving partner on the
international arena and a reliable ally in the struggle against
terrorism”.