CHAIRMAN OF AZERBAIJANI PARLIAMENT ACCUSES INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS OF RISE IN SEPARATISM IN REGION

Trend News Agency
Sept 5 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 5 September/ TrendNews, corr I. Alizade/ Chairman of
Azerbaijani parliament Ogtay Asadov accused international organizations
of the rise in the separatism trends in South Caucasus. "The reason
for the rise in separatism in the region is that some international
organizations do not provided a sharp response to them in time,"
Ogtay Asadov, chairman of Azerbaijani parliament said in a meeting
with the chairman of the Hungarian parliament Katalin Szili.

There is ethnic separatism in territory of three post soviet states-
Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova. Azerbaijan suffers separatism
in Nagorno-Karabakh, Georgia – in South Ossetia and Moldova – in
Transdniester. Georgia launched military offensive in South Ossetia on
8 August to restore its territorial integrity. As a response, Russia
carried out military intervention to Georgia’s territory. At present,
international community is making efforts to address the crisis.

"We hope that from now on international organizations including EU
and its member state Hungary will play an important role in preventing
separatism trends," added chairman of Azerbaijani parliament.

He said Azerbaijan plays a big role in providing energy security of
Europe and in realization of Nabucco gas pipeline project.

Asadov added at present there are friendly relations between Azerbaijan
and Hungary. A total of 19 documents were signed during President
Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Hungary which has served as a legal basis
for mutual relations. "Parliaments should also increase their role
in the development of inter-parliament ties".

Chairman of the Hungarian parliament Szili said her country is
interested in deepening relations with Azerbaijan.

"Besides, the economic cooperation commissions of the two countries
should put more efforts to expand trade relations," she added.