AZERI LEADER, JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSS KARABAKH CONFLICT
Ayaz Mirzayev, ANS, Tokyo

Lider TV, Baku
9 Mar 06

[Presenter] The Nagornyy Karabakh conflict was the main subject
of discussions in Tokyo. The Japanese foreign minister reiterated
Tokyo’s support for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity at a meeting
with [Azerbaijani] President Ilham Aliyev. President Ilham Aliyev has
already finished his official meetings. ANS’s special correspondent
in Japan Ayaz Mirzayev has the details.

[Correspondent by phone] Tokyo supports Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity and a peaceful solution to the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict,
Foreign Minister Taro Aso said when expressing Japan’s position on
the conflict at the meeting with President Aliyev today. The meeting
discussed other bilateral issues as well. President Aliyev briefed
the Japanese diplomat on Azerbaijan’s uncompromising position on the
Nagornyy Karabakh settlement at the meeting behind closed doors. This
was the president’s last official meeting scheduled for 9 March.

[Passage omitted: in remarks to Japanese radio corporation, president
spoke about Karabakh conflict, economic and social reforms]

The president later met an honorary citizen of Azerbaijan and the
former ambassador to Azerbaijan, Toshiyuki Fujiwara.

The president received the managing director of the Japan Institute of
International Affairs, Fujiwara, and thanked him for his unprecedented
services to the development of relations between the two countries. The
former ambassador said that Azerbaijani students are studying the
Japanese language at various education centres of this country and
the process will continue.

The president also went to the Azerbaijani embassy where he met its
staff. The president also met the chairman of the Japan External
Trade Organization.