ESTONIAN LEADER SAYS AZERBAIJAN IMPORTANT FOR ENSURING EUROPE’S ENERGY SECURITY

Lider TV
Jan 14 2009
Baku, Azerbaijan

[Presenter] Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and visiting Estonian
counterpart Toomas Hendrik Ilves have made a joint statement. President
Ilham Aliyev thanked his Estonian counterpart for his support for
resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagornyy Karabakh
within the framework of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. The
Estonian president described Azerbaijan as an important state for
Europe.

[Correspondent over video of two presidents speaking] The heads of
states made a joint statement before journalists. President Aliyev
highly assessed his Estonian counterpart’s visit to our country. He
said that the visit would give an impetus to further development of
ties between the two countries. The head of state reiterated Tallinn’s
support for Azerbaijan’s position on the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.

[Aliyev speaking in English with Azeri voice-over] We are very
grateful to Estonia for its position, which was reflected in the
declaration signed today [13 January]. As for the resolution of the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, that document says that the issue should
be resolved on the basis of territorial integrity, UN Security Council
resolutions and decisions of the OSCE. We are hoping that this approach
will lead to resolution of the conflict and hundreds of thousands of
Azerbaijanis suffering from Armenia’s occupation and ethnic cleansing
will get an opportunity to return to their lands.

[Correspondent] Estonian President Ilves thanked the counterpart for
hospitality. He highly assessed Azerbaijan’s role in the global energy
security and said that his country attached particular importance
to Azerbaijan.

[Ilves, speaking in English with Azeri voice-over] Estonia has been
one of the strongest supporters of Azerbaijan’s admission to the
Council of Europe. We remain Azerbaijan’s strong partner and friend
in the EU. Among other countries, Estonia recognizes the important
role Azerbaijan should play in meeting the energy requirements of
Europe. The most recent developments in the past month show how
important it is that Europe be able to use a variety of sources of
energy. Europe should conduct its own competition policy in the
sphere of energy sources. The reason why we discussed this issue
is that Estonia strongly believes in the importance of diversifying
Europe’s energy supplies.

[Correspondent] Ilves said that after the visit bilateral cooperation
would further develop.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress