AZERI FOREIGN MINISTER, EUROPEAN REPS DISCUSS KARABAKH
Day.az , Azerbaijan
1 Nov 2006
Baku, 1 November: The settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict
is the most topical issue in Azerbaijan’s foreign policy. Azerbaijani
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has told a meeting with the
PACE co-rapporteurs on Azerbaijan, Andres Herkel and Tony Lloyd,
the ministry’s press service reports.
"Being a member of such an authoritative organization like the Council
of Europe, Armenia has violated all international legal norms and
principles by occupying part of Azerbaijan’s territory. As a result,
over one million of Azerbaijanis have become refugees and displaced
persons," Mammadyarov said.
He said that the world community should make it clear to Armenia which
aspires to be part of Europe that it is necessary to withdraw troops
from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.
The co-rapporteurs stressed the importance of speedy resolution of
the conflict and voiced the hope that the peace process would continue.
[APA news agency, in Azeri 1154 gmt 1 Nov 06 reported that the
co-rapporteurs met the Azerbaijani election chief, Mazahir Panahov,
to collect information about elections held in the country.]
[Bakililar.az in Russian 0505 gmt 1 Nov 06 reported that leaders of
the opposition parties Musavat and People’s Front of Azerbaijan, Isa
Qambar and Ali Karimli, informed the co-rapporteurs about the freedom
of speech problem and vote rigging in the country. The co-rapporteurs
also met of MP Camil Hasanli, head of the committee to protect the
rights of jailed ex-economic development minister Farhad Aliyev.]