Baku, 20 November (AZERTAC). An international conference titled “Impediments to Security in the South Caucasus: Current Realities and Future Prospects for Regional Development”, supported by Center for Strategic Studies under the President of the Azerbaijan Republic and the British International Institute for Strategic Studies, has been held today in Baku, capital of Azerbaijan.

The goal of the Conference attended by representatives of the world leading research centers was to discuss current realities in the South Caucasus region and have comprehensive exchange of views on future prospects of regional development, security issues, peace and cooperation.

Speaking at the event, Elnur Aslanov, head of the Political Analysis and Information Department, Administration of the President of Azerbaijan Republic, said the regional security and cooperation issues are in the focus of Azerbaijan, which pursues independent policy that enables the country to develop regional cooperation. Azerbaijan`s role in regional security is also connected to its ability to develop regional projects. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum and Baku-Tbilisi-Kars projects, according to the orator, stimulates the development of regional cooperation, and also is important from the security standpoint. Azerbaijan is a reliable partner of the European security architecture, Mr. Aslanov stressed, adding that the country plays important role in ensuring European energy security.

Touching upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Aslanov stated that the conflict is a real threat for regional security, and a challenge for the stability in world. The European Union, at his words, has to play active role in settlement of the conflict, call on Armenia to take a constructive position, as it is in the interest of Europe, too. The Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia are uncontrolled and used for narcotic production and drug trafficking, Aslanov emphasized.

Ziyafet Askarov, First Vice-Speaker of Azerbaijan Parliament, said Armenia which has made terrorism a state policy, is a main impediment to development of South Caucasus. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is, according to him, the biggest threat for regional progress. Armenia has infringed the international norms and principles and continues its occupant policy. Askarov expressed regret that the occupant has not been punished so far. Azerbaijan`s policy is the most optimal and balanced policy, he noted.

Novruz Mammadov, head of the Foreign Relations Department of Administration of the President of the Azerbaijan Republic said Azerbaijan is the only country in the post-soviet space usefully and really cooperating with the West. To our great regret, in this question Azerbaijan has faced double standards of the West, he noted. Foreign ministers of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair states having attended the ceremony of signing of the protocols between Turkey and Armenia in the Swiss city of Zurich have to show concrete position connected to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Mammadov underlined.

The protracted conflicts have created real jeopardy in the South Caucasus, Ms. Oksana Antonenko, senior fellow of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, UK, said. She called on international community to increase efforts for resolution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Armenia has violated the international law and occupied the Azerbaijani lands, Vladimir Socor, senior fellow of the Jamestown Foundation, USA, noted. He stressed necessity of undertaking by NATO analogous steps in this conflict taken for settlement of the conflicts in the Balkans and former Yugoslavia. In this sense, he said, the normalization of the Turkey-Armenia relations has to be carried out in parallel with the conflict settlement.

Speaking at the second plenary session of the Conference, “East-West Energy Corridor: Challenges and Opportunities”, Dr. Ariel Cohen, senior research fellow, Heritage Foundation, USA, Dr. Irnerio Seminatore, President of the European Institute fro International Relations, Belgium, Elshad Nasirov, Vice-president of SOCAR, Azerbaijan, noted special role of Azerbaijan in production and transportation of hydrocarbon recourses in ensuring of energy security of the West.

The conference was continued by discussions of working groups

######