AZERBAIJANI AGRICULTURE MINISTER WAS BORN IN YEREVAN AND STILL SPEAKS ARMENIAN

Tert.am
12:35 13.05.10

Azerbaijan’s Agriculture Minister Ismad Abasov, who is currently in
Yerevan in the framework of 27th European and regional conference
of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, said he would talk to
Armenian journalists only if he stands near the Azerbaijani flag.

Asked about the possible cooperation between Armenian and Azerbaijan
Abasov said: "It is still early to speak about it because, as you
know, there is a conflict between our countries which cannot be solved
already for several years. I will be frank with you. I think there
will be no cooperation, unless this conflict is resolved."

Further Abasov recollected the former Soviet times when Azerbaijan
was systematically exporting fruit and vegetables to Armenia.

"If everything unfolds successfully, if the lands are freed, if the
relations become as they used to be [in the past] I think that it
will be possible to cooperate in all these spheres," said he.

Interestingly, Ismad Abasov mentioned that he was born in Yerevan
and attended the School number 9, next to the former Hanrapetakan
(Republican) Stadium.

"I managed visiting the house I was born, it is situated on Alaverdyan
Street. It was an emotional moment," added Abasov who surprised the
Armenian journalists saying, in Armenian, that he speaks Armenian
and has not forgotten it yet.

"It is 23 years since I have not been in Yerevan, sometimes I am
having difficulty in speaking Armenian," said Abasov.