MEETING AT THE INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
March 9 2006
President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan on 8 March held a meeting at
the Institute of International Relations of Japan.
In the meeting, attending was the minister of education and science,
the country’s former prime minister, ex-foreign minister, renowned
men of science, authoritative diplomats, ambassadors, businessmen,
militaries, former ambassador of Japan to Azerbaijan, currently the
Executive Director of the Japan Foreign Relations Institute Toshiyuku
Fujiwara, public of Japan, media representatives.
President of the Institute Yukio Yato warmly greeted President Ilham
Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban Khanum Aliyeva.
Mr. Yukio Yato informed on biography of the Azerbaijan President.
Then, President Ilham Aliyev gave a large speech for the participants.
Expressing pleasure with the visit to Japan and level of relations
between two countries, President Aliyev said Japan was one of the
first to cooperate with Azerbaijan after raining state independence.
Visit of the nationwide leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev to Japan
in 1998 played a special role in development of these ties.
President of Azerbaijan spoke of dynamic economic growth in the
Republic, commenting them as record figures in world.
Touching upon the political situation in region, the head of the
Azerbaijan State said there are conflicts on the Caucasus. Azerbaijan
can be considered a stable country in this region and it has good
relations with neighbors. Azerbaijan is an attractive country with
rich natural resources, and important geographical position. It draws
attention and interest. But Azerbaijan is not an arena of rivalry.
President of Azerbaijan informed on the opening of over 340 working
places in the last two and half years in the country, poverty reduction
measures taken, on the social programs being realized.
At the same time, he dwelt on the problems existing in social plight
of the internally displaced persons. Armenia holds 20 percent of
Azerbaijani lands under occupation, pursues ethnic cleanse. As a
result, over one million of people have become refugees and IDPs. The
reason of the conflict is separatism, the President emphasized,
expressing confidence for restoration of justice from the political,
legal and historical points of view. Nagorno Karabakh has never
been the land of the Armenians, he said. They have been removed to
these areas.
The world community and United Nations have recognized Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity, which is not the subject to discussions,
President Ilham Aliyev said. Further, he gave detailed information
on the principles of settlement of this conflict, noting that the
conflict is a threat for entire region.
Speaking of the investment environment in Azerbaijan, President of
Azerbaijan said last times the European countries seek alternative
energy sources as they face gas crisis. In this sense, Azerbaijan
can be the very energy source.
President Ilham Aliyev informed on the religious tolerance historically
existing in Azerbaijan, noting “we can share our experience with the
world states”.
Then President Aliyev widely spoke of the relations with Japan, its
large-scale credits allotted to Azerbaijan, stressed the similarity
in character of two nations – respect for traditions, the adult and
other nations.
The, President of Azerbaijan answered questions on Azerbaijan-Japan
relations, the prospects of economic cooperation, the country’s
oil strategy, the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict and
religious tolerance.
President of the Institute Yukio Yato thanked to the Azerbaijan
President for interesting and substantial lecture, on behalf of the
Institute made him a gift.
** The same day, at the “Imperial” hotel, the Azerbaijan-Japan
Intergovernmental Commission arranged a banquet in honor of the
President of Azerbaijan.