ISTANBUL – Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev said on Monday that cooperation with Armenia could only be made after Upper Karabakh dispute was solved.
Speaking at the Seventh Heads of State and Government Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in Istanbul, Aliyev said that the previous millenium, which was a stage for many developments, also brought forward some important problems like ethnic conflicts and terrorism.
Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan fought against separation and terrorism for a few years with all its sources.
”27 percent of our territories were occupied in the attacks of neighboring Armenia on Azerbaijan which were started 14 years ago as a result of Armenia’s military aggression and territory demand. More than one million Azerbaijani people were taken away from their countries. 35 thousand Azerbaijani people were killed in their own country. Many serious economic and social problems occurred as a result of this aggression,” Aliyev said.
Aliyev went on saying, ”we are continuously saying that the Armenian-Azerbaijani dispute on Upper Karabakh should be solved peacefully. We do not want war, we are pacifists. We hope that peace will prevail in Central Asia and the world.”
”A cooperation with Armenia can only be possible after Upper Karabakh issue is solved. We can make cooperation after territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is ensured and immigrants return to their homes,” Aliyev stated.
Aliyev stressed that all countries had to act together to counter terrorism. Within this framework, ECO has to fight for global values and support rightful case of Azerbaijan by fulfilling its historical mission, he said.
Noting that ECO would find new priorities for development of its region, Aliyev said, ”I hope that ECO will lift all obstacles before countries come together.”
Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan was ready for every kind of initiatives for a regional cooperation, adding that an economic development center that would focus on priorities of development should be formed to coordinate the initiatives.
Anadolu Agency 10/15/2002 12:08:03 AM
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