AZTV BROADCASTS NEW EXCERPTS FROM PRESIDENT’S EURONEWS INTERVIEW

news.az
Feb 8 2010
Azerbaijan

I.Aliyev gives interview to Euronews On 7 February, the Hefte program
on state-owned Azerbaijani TV commented on the president’s remarks
about the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

The commentary included parts of the president’s interview not
broadcast by Euronews.

The president said that there are great hopes for resolving the
conflict peacefully.

Noting that the peace talks depend on two important conditions,
the president said these are Armenia’s compliance with international
norms and the withdrawal of Armenian troops from the internationally
recognized territory of Azerbaijan.

Aliyev said: "We have expectations related to the settlement of
this conflict, because, as you have pointed out, the long-standing
process must result in the peaceful resolution of the conflict. Our
lands are under occupation for already about 20 years. Armenia
violated the fundamental principles of international law. As you
know, the UN Security Council adopted four resolutions demanding
immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian forces from the
occupied territories. However, unfortunately, these resolutions are
not implemented.

"Currently, negotiations are at the stage of completion.Various options
have been considered and not adopted throughout the whole period of
negotiations. And now we are discussing the Madrid principles, which
may be, shall we say, the basis for settlement. But, of course,
this will depend on the willingness of Armenia to withdraw its
troops from the internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan
and to respect international law. Peace will be possible only after
this. This conflict will end sooner or later. Our citizens must
return to their homes. But we want to do this as soon as possible,
because our people have been looking forward this for many years."

The president said that the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is
the main principle fixed in the mediators’ proposals, AzTV’s Ibrahim
Mammadov commented. The president said the other principles are:
territorial integrity; the non-use of force; and self-determination
of peoples.

The president said that territorial integrity and self-determination
are not mutually contradictory.

President Ilham Aliyev said, "I am optimistic about the 2010 activities
of the leading countries co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group aimed at
resolving the conflict. It gives grounds for optimism. At the same
time, as I have noted, the proposals we are considering at present
are based on the fundamental principles of international law.

They are based on the principles of territorial integrity of countries,
non-use of force and self-government of peoples. These principles do
not contradict each other, because the principle of self-government
can be achieved within the framework of territorial integrity.

"We are optimistic in this sense. However, to turn that optimism
into real results, the Armenian side should demonstrate realism and
constructivism and withdraw from our lands which it has been illegally
occupying for many years."