AZERI LEADER PRAISES “NEW FORMAT” OF NAGORNYY KARABAKH TALKS

ANS TV, Baku
12 Apr 06

The Nagornyy Karabakh talks are now conducted in a new format which
suits Azerbaijan’s national interests, President Ilham Aliyev has said.

“The talks are conducted in a new format and this format is just
and suits Azerbaijan’s interests. The format creates the necessary
foundation for the restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity,”
Aliyev said during a trip to the northern Balakan and Zaqatala
districts on 12 April. “Azerbaijan must restore its territorial
integrity. We want to achieve this through peaceful means,
negotiations,” he added.

Speaking about ethnic conflicts in other countries, he said that
Azerbaijan is tolerant toward ethnic minorities. “Regardless of their
ethnic origins, each Azerbaijani citizen is dear to us. In this sense,
Azerbaijan can set an example for the world,” Ilham Aliyev said.

ANS TV reported that the president spent most of his time inspecting
outposts of the State Border Service in Zaqatala District. It showed
servicemen demonstrating their skills to the president.

ANS correspondent quoted Ilham Aliyev as saying that the Azerbaijani
borders were weakened during the Nagornyy Karabakh war and Armenians
took advantage of the opportunity and “attempted to carry out terrorist
attacks”. The president described the role of the State Border Service
in ensuring the country’s security as very important.