POLAND STANDS BY AZERI EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
June 13 2006

Baku, June 12, AssA-Irada
The chair of Poland’s Seim (lower house of parliament) commission on
European Union issues Karol Karski and a member of the commission
Malgozhata Sadurskaya, met with members of the Milli Majlis
(parliament) group for inter-parliamentary cooperation with Poland
on Monday.

Karski pointed to numerous common features between Azerbaijan and
Poland, indicating that the developments in January 1990 in Baku
had marked the beginning of the Soviet Union’s break-up. The Polish
MPs spoke in favor of a negotiated settlement of the Upper (Nagorno)
Garabagh conflict.

Hundreds of civilians were killed or injured by the Soviet troops
in Baku on January 20, 1990 on an order from the USSR leadership
that was trying to maintain the Communist regime in Azerbaijan and
strangle the national freedom movement.

The visiting MPs said Azerbaijan had enormous natural resources and a
burgeoning economy, while its ancient history and culture could make
it an interesting tourist destination. He said Azerbaijan was one of
Poland’s most important partners.

“As a member of the EU, Poland stands by Azerbaijan’s integration
aspirations. We also encourage your country’s cooperation with NATO,”
Karski said.

A member of the parliamentary group for cooperation and friendship
with Poland, MP Eldar Guliyev, said Poland was the first country to
recognize Azerbaijan’s independence. MP Sabir Hajiyev, for his part,
said Azerbaijan was doing a lot to become a member of the European
family and expressed hope that European countries would support
Azerbaijan’s cause in the Upper Garabagh conflict.

He said Azerbaijan was still in favor of peace talks despite the
ongoing occupation of its lands and the existence of more than million
refugees. It is for this reason, Hajiyev said, that Azerbaijan has
been abiding by the ceasefire agreement reached over 10 years ago.

“This has been possible due to the tolerance of the Azerbaijanis,”
the MP said.