AZERBAIJANI OFFICIAL: I DO NOT HIGHLY ASSESS US-AZERBAIJANI RELATIONS

/ANS PRESS/
17.04.2009 20:51

Our Western partners do not properly assess their alliance with
Azerbaijan with whom they undertake major projects.

-I don’t highly asses the relations between the United States and
Azerbaijan, the head of the International Relations Department of the
Presidential Administration Novruz Mammadov said in his interview
with Turan news agency. According to him, Washington does not take
into account Azerbaijan’s interests. The department chief informed
that Western partners did not properly assess their alliance with
Azerbaijan with whom they undertake major projects. "This unfair
attitude toward Azerbaijan can be clearly seen in a wide range of
documents including the 907th Amendment, Millennium Challenge, the
Jackson-Vanik amendment. Instead, Armenia received USD 2 billion
worth funds," Mammadov noted.

Commenting upon the regulation of Daqliq Qarabaq conflict, Mammadov
said that there was no concrete certainty on the talks over the
settlement of the conflict. Despite the previous efforts displayed
by the representatives of the co-chairs, Armenia has been changing
its positions or new element as been put forward. Thus, the talks
have been prolonged. The earlier variant proposed on the framework
agreement represents the stepwise resolution process. However,
Armenia is still keeping Azerbaijani territories under occupation
and rejects startin g implementing this process by withdrawing from
the occupied territories. It all hampers achieving the framework
agreement. Now they are heavily engaged in opening their borders with
Armenia. Unfortunately, Armenia succeeded in gaining the support
form international community, as well Europe and the Unites States
on this issue.

Mammadov also commented on opening of borders between Armenia and
Turkey. WE might undertake adequate measures which will be quite
natural. He also hinted on Azerbaijan’s important geopolitical
positions further adding that those who ignore the country’s interest
might lose a great deal.

"If the borders will be opened, it might result in serious consequences
in our relations with Turkey.