Aliyev: Azerbaijan Can Be Considered Stability Territory

PanARMENIAN.Net - «There are conflicts in the Caucasus, however Azerbaijan can be considered stability territory in the region: we have excellent relations with our neighbors,» Azeri President Ilham Aliyev stated in Tokyo. In his words, Azerbaijan is an attractive country from the point of view of natural resources and geographic location. «However, we want to see Azerbaijan as a territory, where all states, their companies act based on mutual interest,» he remarked.



The Azeri leader emphasized that «availability of refugees and displaced persons results in serious social problems.» «Armenia still controls 20% of Azerbaijan's territory she has occupied and pursues ethnic cleansing policy, which resulted in over 1 million people becoming refugees and displaced persons. On the ratio of the number of refugees and displaced persons to that of the population, Azerbaijan is a country that experiences most hardships in the world,» Aliyev said. In his opinion, «separatism underlies the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.» «However, I am sure justice will be restored. NK has never been part of Armenia historically. Armenians settled in that territory later and none of the names of the locality has Armenian origins,» the President said.



Having noted that all states, including the UN «recognize the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, including NK, and only Armenia does not recognize the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,» Aliyev said, «The question of territorial integrity of our country is not subject to discussion. The subject of talks has to do with withdrawal from the occupied lands, return of people, who were victims of ethnic cleansing and aggression, providing NK highest autonomy status as part of Azerbaijan. All of these should be in line with international legal norms and principles. The international community should play a more active role in settlement of the conflict, as the conflict is the most serious obstacle for regional development.»