POLITICS
AZERBAIJAN NOT TO MAKE ANY CONCESSIONS TO ARMENIA
As was stated to AzerTAj from the press service of Defense Ministry, the Minister congratulated the visitor with new appointment and said: “We are confident that as Minsk Group co-chair you will not spare yourself to settle the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict on the base international legal norms and in the frame of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
Armenia’s policy of aggression causes serious threats for resumption of military operations. Armenia has placed amount of ammunition and weapons in the occupied Azerbaijani territories, trains terrorist groups and uses these territories for narcotics trafficking.
Thanking to the defense minister for warm reception Mr. Steven Mann said he was pleased to come to Baku, expressed gratitude for support Azerbaijan rendered to the United States in combat against international terrorism.
In a year, we shall witness transportation of the Azerbaijan oil through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline to Europe, the diplomat emphasized. And settlement of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict is very complicated. We have to work very hard. Should the conflict not find its solution for a long time, the situation will remain tense and serious in the region.
The conflict cannot be settled by force. The United States adheres peaceful solution of the conflict. Today, we have to find new ways. It has great prospects and should be regarded optimistically. The parties should legalize the way of dialogue. I would like to clarify the prospects in this context.
We should unambiguously analyze the existent situation in the South Caucasus region, Minister Abiyev said. Armenia, ignoring the UN Security Council’s four resolutions and the UN Secretary General’s statement on the conflict, does not release the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. We are told that presidents of the two states should come to a consensus through negotiators. The talks favors Armenia only. This can be continued for another 10-15 years. There is no result. In this way, Azerbaijan is allegedly obliged to prepare for war. The events in Yugoslavia and Iraq were contradicting the international norms and they were resolutely prevented. Whey, then, the aggressive Armenia is not treated in such way?
Noting that there are over one million refugees and IDPs ousted from their homelands in the country and they want to return to their homes, and with the prolongation of talks the people of Azerbaijan distrust the international organizations, Safar Abiyev said: “We believe that you will bring a new breath to the developments in the conflict solution process. This conflict can be settled shortly. Merely, Armenia should be announced an aggressive state and be imposes sanction to it. There are legal grounds for that.
Ambassador Steven Mann stated that the international community adheres settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict by peaceful negotiations. Position of the Unites States is that the sides should make concessions to each other. These concessions must satisfy both states.
In response, colonel-general Safar Abiyev said that Armenia has occupied Azerbaijan’s lands. Azerbaijan will not make any concessions to Armenia. The people of Azerbaijan are also concerned with the double standard in settlement of the conflict. Should not put an end to support by some states to Armenia, settlement of the conflict will delay. It has not been forgotten that Armenia is an aggressor state.
Ambassador of the United States to Azerbaijan Reno Harnish attended the meeting.
