2009 WAS RICH IN ACTIVITIES AND SUCCESSES FOR AZERBAIJAN’S FOREIGN POLICY: AZERBAIJANI FM ELMAR MAMMADYAROV
Trend
Dec 28 2009
Azerbaijan
Trend News conducted an exclusive interview with Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
Trend News: Can we call 2009 a successful year in terms of the
country’s foreign policy? What will be priorities of our foreign
policy in 2010?
Mammadyarov: The year was rich in activities and successes for
Azerbaijani foreign policy. Among these many successes were:
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s frequent visits abroad, the
visits of myriad heads of state and foreign officials to Azerbaijan,
intensive bilateral cooperation, an intensive negation process on
resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the active involvement
of international organizations, as well as events of international
importance that were held in our country and abroad.
Moreover, Baku was the cultural capital of the Islamic world. We have
achieved economic progress and stability amid the global financial
crisis within the country and Azerbaijan straightened its position
on regional and global levels, as well as expanded its diplomatic
representations’ geography. We have enhanced Azerbaijan’s role in
combating traditional and new global threats.
The resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and restoration of our
territorial integrity remain the most basic priorities of our foreign
policy in 2010. In this regard, we will use all our capabilities to
implement the strategic targets set by the President Ilham Aliyev.
Moreover, our other foreign policy priorities are to increase
our country’s leadership role in the South Caucasus, as well as
our prestige as a responsible participant in the international
system of communications. We also aim to develop stable bilateral,
regional and international ties meeting our national interests,
continue mutually respective relations with all countries, actively
partake in international organizations, proceed with our integration
process into Europe and the Euro-Atlantic space, and further expand our
capabilities as an exporting and transit country of great importance
and influence on world energy markets.
Q: Can we call 2009 as a year of progress in resolving the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?
A: This year can be seen in terms of intensified negotiations
to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Azerbaijani and
Armenian presidents’ six meetings this year testify to this fact. The
international community also showed immense interest toward settling
this conflict. Thus, the G-8 Summit in the Italian L’Aquila city
adopted a joint statement by the presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the foreign ministers
of Russia and France and the U.S Assistant Secretary of State adopted
a joint statement on the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement Dec.1 as a result of the Athens meeting of the OSCE Council
of Foreign Ministers.
The international community knows that the status quo is inadmissible
and the conflict must be settled soon. Our position on its resolution
is clear. The conflict must be resolved only within the framework
of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and internationally
recognized borders of Azerbaijan. This position is based on the
norms and principles of international law and U.N. charters, the
Helsinki Final Act and numerous international papers adopted within
the framework of the conflict settlement.
The country’s position is reflected in a joint declaration signed
by the presidents of Azerbaijan, Russia and Armenia in November
2008 in Moscow, stating that the conflict should be resolved within
the norms of international law, as well as documents adopted within
this framework.
Today, the whole world sees the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict only through observing the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan. Negotiations are in progress and based on these
principles. Progress on resolving the conflict is possible only
after the Armenian troops withdraws from the occupied territories
of Azerbaijan.
Q: Recently, Azerbaijan called the actions of the world "double
standards" in terms of this conflict. A program on Nagorno-Karabakh
broadcast by Euronews, the U.S. decision to allocate aid to the
separatist regime, and the European Parliament’s resolution on freedom
of speech in Azerbaijan are several examples. What are your thoughts
in this regard?
A: Some forces in the world community are jealous of our increasing
authority. In some cases, this manifests itself as double standards.
We assess the incidents that you cited as examples of disrespect
to our territorial integrity, the occupation of our lands, the
ethnic cleansing of about million Azerbaijani refugees and IDPs, and
destruction of our historical and cultural monuments and we strictly
protest against these actions.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan is a young country that started along the path
of democratic development in a complex international environment
and continues making steps to promote high standards and values of
nation-building. The process is closely monitored and analyzed by the
international community. However, in some cases, these evaluations of
our progress are more akin to pressure on our country, which disturbs
our momentum.
Azerbaijan is ahead of many regional and non-regional countries in
terms of its democracy.
The policy that Aliyev has pursued has turned Azerbaijan into a strong
and powerful country and a regional leader. Attempts to exert pressure
on Azerbaijan are unacceptable.