UNLESS PROBLEM IS SOLVED, THERE WILL BE NO RELATIONS BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES, AZERBAIJANI AGRICULTURAL MINISTER SAYS
NOYAN TAPAN
MAY 14, 2010
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, MAY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. It is still early to speak about any
prospects of possible cooperation in agriculture between Armenia and
Azerbaijan, Agriculture Minister of Azerbaijan Ismad Abbasov said. The
minister, who is in Yerevan in order to participate in the 27th Europe
and Central Asia regional conference of the UN FAO, told reporters
on May 13 that there is a problem between the two countries, and it
remains unsolved for many years. "If I am not mistaken, the cease-fire
was established 16 years ago on April 12, so the problem has been
unsolved for 16 years. To be honest, unless the problem is solved,
there will no relations," the Azerbaijani agriculture minister said.
In his words, "if everything turns out well, if the lands are
liberated, and if the relations are as they were in the past, then, I
think there will be cooperation in all spheres, including agriculture".
Speaking about the Azerbaijani economy, he said that it is developing
rapidly. According to I. Abbasov, the geographical position of
Azerbaijan is very favorable for growing various kinds of agricultural
products. "Out of 11 climatic conditions in the world, 9 are available
in Azerbaijan. For that reason we can grow almost all agricultural
products, including citrus plants," he noted.
In his opinion, the problem of hunger raised by the UN Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) does not threaten Azerbaijan. "The
number of the poor in our country makes one fourth of what it used
to be a few years ago: it makes up 9-11% of the total population. It
is the result of the policy conducted by the head of state. It is
envisaged that there will be no poor in our country in the future," I.
Abbasov said.
It is noteworthy that I. Abbasov was born in Yerevan and attended
the city school No 9 (near Republican Stadium). According to him,
he visited the house where he was born: it is on Alaverdian Street.
Although Abbasov has not been in Yerevan for 23 years, he has not
forgotten Armenian and answered several questions of reporters in
fluent Armenian.