AZERBAIJAN FOREIGN MINISTER URGES GLOBAL COMMUNITY TO ENHANCE DIALOGUE AMONG CULTURES AND RELIGIONS

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Sept 26 2006

Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov called for undertaking
"concrete measures to enhance dialogue and broaden understanding
among nations, cultures and religions" at the general debate of
the 61st Session of the UN General Assembly, AzerTAc’s personal
correspondent reports.

The Minister pointed out the necessity to stop the growing tendency
towards Islamophobia in the world, adding that as Chairman of the
Ministerial Council of the Organization of the Islamic Conference
Azerbaijan considers it very important to increase public awareness
of Islam worldwide including in the Muslim societies.

"To this end, we plan to host in Baku in 2007 under the OIC an
international conference on the role of mass media in developing
tolerance and mutual understanding," he said.

Elmar Mammadyarov stated while condemning all forms of terrorism
Azerbaijan is seriously concerned over attempts to associate terrorism
with Islam and Muslim nations.

Touching upon the situation concerning the massive fires in the
occupied territories of Azerbaijan as a subject of urgent consideration
by the General Assembly, the Foreign Minister said the resolution it
had adopted is aiming to assess the short- and long-term impact of
the fire on the environment, involve conflicting parties, Azerbaijan
and Armenia parties, in joint environmental operation, and thus,
promoting establishment of atmosphere of trust between them, to give
an impetus to the peace process.

"Sadly, this is the only positive development so far," he however,
added.

Minister Mammadyarov noted "although no substantial progress has been
witnessed so far, the parties accepted the stage-by-stage approach in
the settlement." "Basically, there are two main issues on which parties
disagree – definition of status of self-rule for the population of
the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region and withdrawal of the Armenian
forces from all the occupied territories of Azerbaijan," he said.

Describing Azerbaijan’s position on the issue the Minister said the
status can be defined only through democratic and legal process with
direct involvement of both Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of
Nagorno-Karabakh.

"Our position based on relevant resolutions of the Security Council
and OSCE decisions, which unequivocally demand unconditional withdrawal
of the occupying forces from all occupied territories of the Republic
of Azerbaijan," he said.

"It is difficult to hope for breakthrough in the negotiations
when Armenia rejects face-to-face meetings and refuses to take a
constructive approach to solve existing problems, the Minister said."

>From the UN rostrum, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan
also spoke of the economic progress achieved in the country for the
past years. He described creation of "favorable environment to attract
investments into the non-oil sector and diversify the export potential
of the country" as key challenge of its Government.

"The year 2006 has marked a historic event for the region and beyond,
which is the official inauguration of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main oil
export pipeline. Currently, we are looking forward to completion of
the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline this fall and remain commitment
to contribute to global energy security," he said.