AZERI, US OFFICIALS DISCUSS IRAN, KARABAKH IN WASHINGTON

Azartac news agency, Baku
31 Mar 2006

Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov has expressed concern
about Iran’s “some moves” in the Caspian Sea. In an interview with
the state-run news agency Azartac after his recent visit to Canada
and the USA, Azimov said that US experts will visit Baku to examine
Azerbaijan’s opportunities to join ” the G8’s nonproliferation
initiative” and favoured stronger ties with the USA in the sphere of
security. Speaking on the Karabakh settlement, Azimov said the USA
should “realize” and Armenia has to bear in mind that Azerbaijan will
never agree to the division of its territories.

The following is excerpt from report by Azerbaijani news agency
Azartac; subheadings have been inserted editorially:

Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov wrapped up his working
visit to Canada and the USA on 30 March. [Passage omitted: background
information on US-Azerbaijani security dialogue since 1996]

Azimov has given an interview about the results of his visit to North
America to an Azartac correspondent.

[Correspondent] You are Azerbaijan’s first official representative
to have visited Canada. How high is interest in Azerbaijan in that
country? What can you say about talks held?

[Azimov] Indeed, this was the first visit of a high-ranking delegation
from the Azerbaijani Republic to Canada. [Passage omitted: background
information on bilateral ties]

It was impossible to discuss all issues during the two-day visit. But
we were able to touch on main problems that concern us. Canada’s
position on the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict between Armenia and
Azerbaijan is not always explicit. As an OSCE member state, Canada
has so far offered only superficial moral and political support. But
Canada can gradually come closer to this issue in the future.

Issues of concern in ties with Canada

In our region, there are some Canada-related issues that concern us,
such as the participation of several Canadian companies in some illegal
projects in Turkmenistan, and also in the exploitation of gold mines
in the occupied Kalbacar District. We brought this to the attention
of the Canadian government.

They explained that the Canadian government has no connection with
those companies and that it is trying not to interfere in these
issues. Having heard their explanation, we said that Azerbaijan will
continue to express its concern to the Canadian government, and ask
Canada for help in these issues.

Of course, you won’t get anything by just keeping aside and watching.

It is already two years that our embassy in Canada has been operating
very well. It has been able to breathe some life into Canada’s
Azerbaijan community. These are what we have done. We are waiting
for action from Canada too. Above all, we would like Canada to open
its embassy in Baku.

Security dialogue with USA

[Correspondent] You are the co-chairman of the US-Azerbaijani security
dialogue, which is a framework mechanism. Projects that are initiated
here are brought to the attention of the [US and Azerbaijani]
governments for their approval. What specific projects you take to
Baku after the current stage of the dialogue?

[Azimov] The security dialogue, which started in 1996, enabled us to
explore security issues between Azerbaijan and the USA. We should
improve this dialogue further. Azerbaijan will see more threats to
its security as its international authority and capabilities are
becoming stronger. Azerbaijan should be prepared for this. Azerbaijan
and the USA mainly cooperate in the military, political and security
areas. They are doing practical work in these spheres.

The US support for Azerbaijan in these areas is at the needed level.

But our demands are much greater. The US approach to our demands
shows that it is ready for a closer cooperation.

As a whole, the dialogue goes well. We had the same issues on our
agenda this time: Azerbaijan’s national and regional security,
relations within NATO, the OSCE’s growing role in processes, the
settlement of regional conflicts, relations between the Caspian
littoral states, and military and political situation in the Caspian
basin.

The complex of risks and threats in the Caspian region is quite
complicated. It has military, terrorism and environment elements. In
this respect, the USA will closely cooperate with Azerbaijan.

We achieved some agreements. Several expert groups will visit Baku.

They will explore Azerbaijan’s opportunities to join an energy and
maritime security initiative, and also the G8’s nonproliferation
initiative.

Baku concerned about Iran’s actions in Caspian

[Correspondent] Did you discuss Iran?

[Azimov] While considering the situation in the region, we discussed
the situation on the Azerbaijani-Iranian border. We said that a
130-kilometre stretch of the [Azerbaijani-Iranian] border is under
occupation. We certainly had to discuss threats coming from here
[the occupied stretch of the border].

We also discussed the situation in the [Azerbaijani] section of
Caspian Sea that borders Iran. Azerbaijan is concerned about some
moves of Iran there. We have repeatedly said that calmness should
reign on borders of neighbouring countries. These borders should be
respected and be inviolable.

We also said that we maintain ties with neighbouring Iran in various
fields, including trade ties. We have many compatriots in Iran.

Therefore, Azerbaijan is watching the developments in Iran with
interest and concern. We would not want that a crisis occur here. We
favour a peaceful resolution of issues.

US role in Karabakh settlement

[Correspondent] [Armenian Foreign Minister] Vardan Oskanyan has
recently said in Washington that Armenia views the Nagornyy Karabakh
issue from the position of defining this region’s the self-governing
status. But Azerbaijan has repeatedly said it is dealing with a
separatist regime in Nagornyy Karabakh. How does the USA consider
this conflict given these viewpoints ?

[Azimov] The USA is directly involved in the settlement of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. The USA is for a speedy settlement of
the conflict, and is ready to step up its efforts in this direction.

Although various expressions are being used, the situation is however
the same. This is all about Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity,
a conflict on Azerbaijan’s territory, and its settlement.

Azerbaijan maintains that the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities
should peacefully co-exist in Nagornyy Karabakh, and that they should
be given the necessary guarantees. I am confident that Azerbaijan
will achieve this at some stage because there is no other way out.

The USA has to realize, and Armenia should bear in mind that Azerbaijan
will not agree to the division of its territories and will prevent
this.

This should not be perceived as the toughening of our position. This
is a principled position, which Azerbaijan has maintained from the
very beginning, from the first day of the conflict. We will remain
in this position. We are ready to display the needed flexibility
in the settlement of the conflict. I say this, also appealing to my
compatriots – the Armenian community living in Nagornyy Karabakh should
be provided with some form of self-government. Armenians are claiming
that political circles in Azerbaijan are calling for the expulsion of
Armenians from Nagornyy Karabakh. This is not true. We have never been
against the existence of Armenians in Nagornyy Karabakh as Azerbaijani
citizens. On the contrary, we believe that these people should have the
necessary social, public and political rights, which should be ensured.

This should not be viewed as Azerbaijan’s weakness. As a powerful,
modern and democratic state, Azerbaijan is ready to ensure a normal
life for each of its citizens of any ethnic origin. It is true that
there are extreme points on both sides [as published]. We should give
them up and come to common ground.

Azerbaijanis in Karabakh

Armenia’s extreme position is that Nagornyy Karabakh has not been and
will never be part of Azerbaijan. One should give up this position,
and the government of Azerbaijan should guarantee a model of
self-government for the Armenians living in Nagornyy Karabakh.

This model should be based on European models. It must recognize
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and the inviolability of its
borders.

One should not forget that Azerbaijanis have also lived in Nagornyy
Karabakh along with Armenians. Vardan Oskanyan and other Armenian
politicians distort facts in their statements. They claim that a
small number of Azerbaijanis lived in Nagornyy Karabakh.

Firstly, this is not true. Nearly 50,000-60,000 Azerbaijanis lived
there. And secondly, number is immaterial. One should not deny
the importance of this issue even if 1,000 people lived there. The
Azerbaijani community must be returned to Nagornyy Karabakh. We should
make sure that both communities benefit from the same self-government
model within Azerbaijan’s law. This is the constructive position of
the Azerbaijani side.

[Passage omitted: repetition; Azimov says Section 907 of the Freedom
Support Act banning US aid to the Azerbaijani government does not
hinder Azerbaijani-US cooperation]

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress