" AZERBAIJAN’S FOREIGN POLICY FOR ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI CONFLICT MUST BE OFFENSIVE" – PRESIDENT
Trend News Agency
July 7 2008
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan, Baku, 7 July / Тrend News A.Aliyev/ " Azerbaijan’s
foreign policy towards Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict must be of
offensive character," Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said at the
third meeting of the heads of Azerbaijan’s diplomatic missions abroad
on 7 July.
The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began
in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since
1992, Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. In
1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which
time the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group ( Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful
negotiations.
"The key task of Azerbaijani diplomats is to inform the
international community about the truth of the Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict. Armenia’s occupation policy must be condemned at all levels,"
stressed President.
According to President Aliyev, diplomats bear great responsibility for
fulfilment of foreign policy priorities and informing the international
community of the truth about Azerbaijan. Diplomats must closely
cooperate with state bodies of those countries in which they are
accredited and must improve their efforts to protect political and
economic interests of Azerbaijan," said President.
Azerbaijan has established diplomatic relations with 160
countries. Presently, embassies and consulates of 57 countries, as well
as a range of representation offices of international organizations,
operate in Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan sent its diplomatic corps to 56 countries and international
organizations; 30 of Azerbaijan’s 47 embassies launched operation
in 2004-2008.
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