Azerbaijan, NATO discuss cooperation and Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
Baku, May 30 (AZERTAC). Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the State Committee for Affairs of Refugees and IDPs Ali Hasanov has today met NATO Secretary General`s Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security Mari Skare to discuss current state of and prospects for cooperation, as well as the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and its consequences for the region.
Hasanov said Azerbaijan-NATO cooperation was started after the country restored its independence. “Azerbaijan and NATO enjoying all-round cooperation. Our country is making a huge contribution to NATO`s activities by participating the peacemaking operations.”
Chairman of the State Committee said Azerbaijan was rapidly developing. “After signing of Contract of Century in 1994 the country started to dynamically develop. President Ilham Aliyev determined three main targets - to make Azerbaijan a developed country, to decrease level of poverty and to minimize dependence on oil.”
Hasanov stated that social and economic reforms, as well as state programs regarding development of regions and creation of jobs were carried out in Azerbaijan to reach those targets.
“Azerbaijan made huge accomplishments in political, economic and cultural fields. Unfortunately, the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the main problem for the country,” Hasanov stressed.
“Resolutions and statements made by influential international organizations like the United Nations, the OSCE and the Council of Europe condemn Armenia`s aggressive policy and unanimously demand unconditional withdrawal of troops from occupied lands and returning of IDPs and refugees to their homelands.”
“The OSCE Minsk Group has been conducting negations for 20 years, but there are no results. Settlement of the conflict must be based on norms and principles of the international law. Armenia, which ignores demands of international community, continues its illegal activities in Azerbaijan`s occupied territories. Azerbaijan`s territories are used by Armenia as a transit area for the trafficking of narcotics.”
The Deputy Minister also spoke of Azerbaijani government`s efforts to improve social welfare of refugees and IDPs. He hailed President Ilham Aliyev`s care and attention to refugees and IDPs, adding as a result, 75 modern settlements were built with all social and technical infrastructure.
NATO Secretary General`s Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security Mari Skare said her visit aimed to attend the 2nd World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue and to become aware of Azerbaijan`s realities.
Skare praised the current level of cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO, saying Azerbaijani actively participates in the Alliance`s programs.
She stressed significance of enhancing cooperation on women, peace and security matters.
Skare was presented a book and CDs on Armenia`s aggression against Azerbaijan.
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