POLITICS
FAMOUS EGYPTIAN NEWSPAPER ``AL-AHRAM`` WRITES ABOUT AZERBAIJAN
Cairo`s ``Al-Ahram`` newspaper, which has a broad readership, published an article entitled ``Benefits from the oil deposits``, Azerbaijan`s embassy in Egypt reports.
The article gives detailed information about Azerbaijan, its location, people, economy and oil, saying in some regions of Azerbaijan the fire burns directly from the land, which makes Azerbaijan to be called ``the land of fire``. The author goes on to say that currently 20% of its territory is under Armenian occupation. Despite this, today admirable economic growth is observed in Azerbaijan rich with oil and natural gas reserves.
It says: ``Now the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is main problem of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan`s population is over 8 millions, of which, one million lives as refugees and internally displaced persons who have been driven from their homelands as a result of military aggression by Armenia.``
The author stresses that per day Azerbaijan transports 1 million barrels of oil and gas to Turkey, and further to Greece.
These achievements have established strategic cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Union. At present, Azerbaijan is the most reliable European energy supplier because of the decreased dependence of Europe on Russian oil, the author underlines. The article further states the energy revenues play important role in economic development of Azerbaijan. At the same time, Azerbaijan strengthens its army since this country lives with the problem of occupation of its lands. However, it continues negotiations with the Armenians for peaceful liberation of the territory. The article goes on by saying if three years ago Azerbaijan`s military budget was 150 million dollars, but now it has reached 1 billion, which equals the entire annual budget of Armenia.
The author pays attention to Azerbaijani Minister for Foreign Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov`s answer to the correspondent`s question on the possibility of the military way of settlement to the conflict. ``I can not give a forecast on how the problem will be solved. Let us look at the processes from the reality of the economic development, which really helps us to strengthen. However, we are firmly committed to liberating our occupied lands through peaceful negotiations. This requires strong political will. Negotiations are currently being held between our country and Armenia. We want to convince the Armenians that by continuing the occupation of others` lands and a policy of genocide, they will never become a part of the European Community. Their aggression is a serious threat not only to Azerbaijan but also for the entire region``.