POLITICS
‘Azerbaijan is a strategically important South Caucasus country’
Baku, January 6 (AZERTAC). Chairman of an Azerbaijan-Belgium interparliamentary friendship group, Philippe Blanchart, has praised Azerbaijan`s importance for South Caucasus region.
Speaking to first deputy chairman of Azerbaijan`s parliament, Ziyafat Asgarov, in Baku, Blanchart said Azerbaijan was a strategically important country for the region.
“Azerbaijan is of great geopolitical importance in South Caucasus.”
He lauded the Azerbaijani government`s efforts towards strengthening the protection of human rights in the country.
“Azerbaijan can give a lesson to many other countries in terms of tolerance and the protection of human rights.”
Blanchart said Azerbaijan`s image was strengthening on a global scale, in particular in Europe.
He expressed Belgium`s interest in developing the relations with Azerbaijan.
“As a Belgian delegation we are interested in developing our relationship with Azerbaijan, and the major goal of our visit is to hold discussions on various aspects of the bilateral relations, as well as the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” Blanchart added.
Asgarov highlighted socio-political, economic and democratic development processes in Azerbaijan, as well as the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Asgarov said twenty percent of Azerbaijan`s lands had been under Armenian occupation.
“As a result of Armenia`s ethnic cleansing policy over 1 million Azerbaijanis have been expelled from their homelands, becoming refugees and IDPs.”
He expressed regret over the fact “Armenia continues to ignore resolutions of international organizations”.
“By refusing to fulfill the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict-related resolutions of the United Nations, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, European Parliament and other leading international organizations, Armenia undermines the image of the international law.”
Asgarov called on the Belgian MPs to support Azerbaijan`s “just cause” in settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Asgarov and Blanchart discussed a wide range of issues, including prospects for developing the Azerbaijan-Belgium interparliamentary cooperation, regional and world developments and parliament diplomacy.