FOREIGN MINISTER GIVES FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE IN MOSCOW
Opening the press conference, first deputy Director General of the news Agency ITAR-TASS Mikhail Gusman said in particular: earlier this year we greeted here President of Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev. Today, this kind tradition in continuing, and we are saying welcome to Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov.
Later, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov outlined the results of his consultations with the Chief of the Russia's International Relations Department Sergey Lavrov. He characterized the talks as quite successful noting that they had discussed a number of very important political, economic and humanitarian issues.
Responding to the questions from Russian journalists, Minister Mammadyarov let them know that the problem of settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict was one of the main topics of the talks. We don't believe in the idea of frozen conflicts, and the international community should gain unambiguous understanding of the fact that ethnic purges and occupation of territories are not methods for resolution of problems , he stated. The Minister reminded that the Armenian forces had occupied the territories of Azerbaijan outside the administrative borders of Nagorno-Karabakh, i.e. those where Armenians had never lived before. Ethnic purge was pursued there, and there is not a single Azerbaijani there at the moment, and certainly, it will be very difficult to move forward in peace talks without their return to the native lands, he said.
Touching on the related activity of the OSCE Minsk Group, Minister Mammadyarov noted that such states as USA, France and Russia i.e. permanent members of the UN SC should make their presence felt in the conflict's resolution.
He also stated the exchange of views between the Ministers on a wide range of economic issues opens good opportunities for development of cooperation to increase goods turnover between the two countries, as well as that in energy, education, humanitarian and tourism spheres. He dwelt on the large-scale energy projects being implemented in Azerbaijan including oil and gas projects, and realization of the "North-South" transport corridor.
Asked of the possibilities for deployment of NATO military installations in Azerbaijan, the Foreign Minister described the issue as very multi-step and complicated issue depending on many factors. In the present situation it is, at least, naive to talk about it, he said.
Speaking of the global fight against terror, the Minister noted that the parties shared their views on the need of that. Since independence, Azerbaijan faced 32 terror acts in its territory, and is well aware of the threat this evil bears, and Russia and Azerbaijan will continue cooperation in this sphere, he emphasized..
Touching finally upon the negotiations on the status of the Caspian Sea , Minister Elmar Mammadyarov anounced they are to be continued in September in Moscow at deputy foreign ministers level.
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