Journal of Turkish Weekly
Dec 15 2004
British F.M. Straw: Britain Supports Azerbaijan’s Efforts in
Nagorno-Karabakh
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw says Britain fully supports
Azerbaijan’s efforts to find a peaceful solution to a territorial
dispute with Armenia.
Mr. Straw made the comment about Nagorno-Karabakh Tuesday, following
a meeting in London with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
Nagorno-Karabakh is an ethnic Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan that
declared independence in 1988. A six-year conflict over the area
claimed some 35,000 lives.
Mr. Straw also described Azerbaijan as an important energy partner
for Britain, and he thanked Mr. Aliyev for his country’s
contributions to the multinational forces serving in Iraq,
Afghanistan and Kosovo.
Mr. Aliyev succeeded his ailing father, Heydar, as Azerbaijan’s
president in October 2003. The elder Mr. Aliyev died two months
later.
Azerbaijan marked his passing Sunday, the first anniversary of his
death.