ELMAR MAMMADYAROV: NAGORNO KARABAKH CAN GET HIGHER AUTHORITY ONLY IN THE FRAMEWORK OF AZERBAIJAN’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Sept 25 2007

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov received the delegation
of California State Senate. The ministry’s press service told APA that
Elmar Mammadyarov regarded the establishment of the cooperation between
Azerbaijan and California as a positive step, highly appreciated the
activity of Azerbaijani Consul General in Los Angeles and informed
the visitors about the priorities of the country’s foreign policy.

Speaking about successful energy projects, the minister said special
attention is attached to the non-oil sector, as well as the development
of tourism, transport and agrobusiness, and investment in education
in the country.

Touching upon Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict Elmar Mammadyarov noted that
Nagorno Karabakh Armenians are Azerbaijani citizens and they can get
higher authority only in the framework of Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity. The minister underlined that Armenian Diaspora is very
active in California and its activity is destructive.

Sheila Kuehl, head of the delegation, said a number of offices,
businessmen and NGOs of California established relations with
Azerbaijan.

Senators from California said that the US government supports peaceful
solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and underlined the necessity
of regarding the territorial integrity as the basic conception.

The sides also noted the importance of continuing mutual visits.