AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Nov 10 2004
GERMANY AND FRANCE CONSIDER AZERBAIJAN PLAYS IMPORTANT ROLE IN
MAINTENANCE OF STABILITY IN SOUTHERN CAUCASUS
[November 10, 2004, 14:14:35]
On November 9, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar
Mammadyarov has met the delegation headed by directors on political
questions of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Germany and France
Michael Scheffer and Stanislav Lefebvre de Labula.
As was informed to AzerTAj from the press center of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Mr. Elmar Mammadyarov having noted, that Azerbaijan
is satisfied with successful development of the relations with Germany
and France, has told: “Recent official visits of the President of our
country Ilham Aliyev to France and Germany have played important role
in development of these relations. The Minister also has emphasized
that it is important to make joint efforts to raise bilateral
cooperation between these states on higher level.
Having noted that cooperation of Azerbaijan with the European Union,
the Council of Europe, the NATO, the United Nations Organization and
other international structures is at a high level, the Minister of
Foreign Affairs has told, that inclusion of our country to programs
of European Union “New Neighborhood” and NATO “Individual plan for
cooperation” are bright example of the even greater expansion of links
between the sides. He has told: “The Azerbaijan leadership giving
great value to the question of integration of our country in the
European and Euro-Atlantic structures, democracy and civil society,
making basis of these structures carries out important reforms for
strengthening in our republic of such values, as human rights. In
detail informing visitors about political, social and economic
conditions in the country, the Minister has dwelt as well on the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict. Having noted, that
the country is the supporter of the peace settlement of the conflict
on the basis of norms of international law and under condition of
preservation of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, Mr. Mammadyarov
has told about artificial settling of the Armenians on the Azerbaijan
lands occupied by Armenia. The Minister has expressed confidence that
inclusion in the agenda of present session of General Assembly of the
United Nations of the item “On position at the occupied territories”,
will draw attention of the international public to this question. He
has told: “Efforts of the Azerbaijan side are not directed at all
on replacing of OSCE Minsk Group engaged in definition of ways of
resolution to the Nagorny Karabakh conflict, any other organization,
and, on the contrary, it tries to assist in its activity.
Having emphasized that Azerbaijan plays important role in preservation
of stability in the region of Southern Caucasus, the visitors have
noted, that the country possesses more potential to hold one of leading
positions within the framework of the international organizations. The
sides have carried out exchange of views on the general situation
in the regional and international level, and have mentioned also
questions of definition of the status of the Caspian and role of
Azerbaijan in the international struggle against terrorism.
At the meeting, also were discussed other questions representing
mutual interest.