PRESIDENT BEGINS VISIT SEEKING TO REMAIN AT ARMS-LENGTH FROM U.S. TENSIONS WITH IRAN
Barry Schweid
Associated Press writer Aida Sultanova contributed to this report

AP Worldstream
Apr 26, 2006

While pledging ccontinued support to counter terrorism, President
Ilham Aliev of Azerbaijan said Wednesday, “Azerbaijan will not be
engaged in any kind of potential operation against Iran.”

Aliev opened a three-day visit Wednesday seeking to remain at
arms-length from rising U.S. tensions with Iran.

He cited a “very clear” agreement with Iran that that the two countries
would not permit their territory to be used for operations against
the other.

Aliev, who is due to meet with President George W. Bush on Friday at
the White House, spoke at the private Council on Foreign Relations.

He said his Caspian Sea nation, which shares a border with Iran
where 30 million Azeris live, and with Russia, wanted to remain an
“island of stability” in the tough neighborhood.

At the same time, Aliev said Azerbaijan had sent troops to Iraq,
Afghanistan and Kosovo, and would “do its best to stand shoulder to
shoulder” with the United States on security.

The president, who took office in October 2003, has the potential to
be an intermediary between the Bush administration and Iran.

Iranian Defense Minister Mustafa Mohammad Najjar, on a visit to Baku
last week, said Aliev could use his talks in Washington to “explain”
Iran’s views to the United States.

Next week, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is due in Baku for
a regional economic conference.

Aliev said he did not think Iran would be a “major aspect” of his
talks in Washington, which are due to include a meeting with Vice
President Dick Cheney.

But he said “if the question of regional security arises we will
discuss it.”

Azerbaijan is committed to peace in the region, he said. “We need to
try to provide peace and stability.”

“At this time,” he said, “it is best to concentrate on a peaceful
resolution” of the dispute over Iran’s nuclear programs, which the
United States and European allies say seek development of a nuclear
bomb.

On another issue, due to be aired during Aliev’s visit, he conceded
there was a need for political reform in his country, a former Soviet
republic of 7.9 million which became independent 16 years ago.

Referring to Azerbaijan’s energy boom, Aliev said “economic reform
without political reform will lead to severe problems.”

He said his country was moving forward on both fronts.

Freedom House on Tuesday said Azerbaijan restricts political and human
rights and is among the lowest-ranked countries in the private rights
group’s annual surveys.

“President Bush has made democracy promotion a priority of his
presidency,” Freedom House executive director Jennifer Windsor said
in a statement. “His upcoming meeting with President Aliev presents
an important opportunity for him to discuss Azerbaijan’s democracy
deficit.”

Aliev, in response to questions Wednesday, rejected the description of
his government as a “regime” and said ‘we have all the major freedoms.”

Critics have questioned whether U.S. criticism would be muted due to
Azerbaijan’s role in supplying the West with Caspian Sea oil.

In his remarks, Aliev spoke most about a dispute with Armenia over
the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave of Azerbaijian. Ethnic Armenian forces
hold the region, in what Aliev called an occupation.

He said Azerbaijan’s recovery of the territory was not subject to
negotiations.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress