PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN NEEDS A SIMPLE ANSWER TO A SIMPLE QUESTION

ArmInfo
2009-04-29 11:37:00

It is the choice of Armenia and Turkey how to continue their relations,
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said at a joint press conference
with President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso,
APA reported.

The Head of the Azerbaijani state also answered the questions
regarding the discussions he had conducted with Jose Manuel Barroso
about Turkey-Armenia rapprochement: "I have discussed a number of
issues, including regional development and cooperation issues with
the President of the European Commission. Of, course while talking
about the regional cooperation, we could not leave aside of the latest
developments in the region you have mentioned about. We have expressed
our position on this issue many times. The position is that we never
intervene in the affairs of other states and the relations between the
two sovereign countries. This is the decision what Turkey and Armenia
can make. It’s their choice how to continue their relations. But
while touching on some comments about the historical roots of this
issue, I want to remind that the border between Turkey and Armenia was
closed in 1993 as a result of occupation of Azerbaijan’s territories
by Armenia. This occupation is still continuing today. Today, Armenia
still continues keeping the internationally-recognized territories of
Azerbaijan under its occupation. I reiterate that we do not have such
a position to create obstacle for further development of relations
between these two countries or prevent it. I want to mention that we
also have a right to form our policy according to the new realities
in the region and we will use this right. We receive different
information from different sources. According to him, one source says
that "Road Map" was accepted in certain circumstances, but another
source says no circumstances have been determined yet. This is a kind
of word game. I think the world, region and Azerbaijani People have
a right to know what happens. Is Nagorno Karabakh problem left aside
of Turkey-Armenia rapprochement? This is a very simple question and
we need a very simple answer", I. Aliyev said.