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Heydar Aliyev: I sincerely welcome the distinguished guests. Welcome to
Azerbaij an! Mr. Secretary - General ! I am pleased to meet you again. Four
years ago, in May 1994, I went to the headquarter of NATO in Brussels for the
fi rst time, and signed “Partnership for Peace” program. In May 1996, I went
to Brussels for the second time, and Mr. Secretary - General, I met you there.
Then, I submitt ed the document of Azerbaij an for joining the “Partnership for
Peace” program to you. Thus, we joined to this program and cooperate with
you. Mr. Javier Solana, you fi rst visited Baku in February last year. I remember
our meetings in Madrid and New York, we had productive talks. You are visit-
ing Azerbaij an again. I think that the relations between Azerbaij an and NATO
have noticeably improved, and Azerbaij an’s participation in “Partnership for
Peace” program was successful in the past four years. We highly appreciate it
and intend to continue this cooperation. I assume that we can thoroughly dis-
cuss numerous issues in this regard during your visit to Baku.
Javier Solana: Mr. President, many thanks for your kind words. I always
remember with pleasure our three meetings last year. Most importantly, we
have assembled to discuss not only what has been done within “Partnership
for Peace” program, but also to discuss other issues concerning the security in
the world. In my opinion, we can learn more from the exchange of views with
President Heydar Aliyev. I think there are more issues to deal with in the XXI
century since the globalization is under way, and initiatives are made region-
ally. The international conference of Baku on the restoration of the historical
Silk Road, organized on the initiative of Azerbaij an, is a remarkable event. This
conference is a proof to globalization, on the one hand, and to regional coop-
eration, on the other. Participation of more than 30 countries in the conference
indicates that they are willing to cooperate. It is a good example of mutual
activity implemented through economic cooperation, trade, and joint initia-
tives for the sake of security. I think we must focus more on safety and security
in the forthcoming century. Indeed, the word “safety” has a practical mean-
ing. But it is also related to economic development, trade and other issues that
will eventually ensure the security of our world in the upcoming century. Mr.
President, I congratulate you on your initiatives. Bilateral relations between
From the speech of the Azerbaij ani President
Heydar Aliyev with the delegation of NATO Headed
by Secretary - General Javier Solana
Presidential Palace, September 30, 1998
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Azerbaij an and NATO develop well, and I am glad for that. We want Azerbai-
jan and NATO cooperate on a bilateral basis more widely. I thank your for your
hospitability, and I am pleased to be here again.
Heydar Aliyev: I extend my gratitude to you, Mr. Secretary - General of
NATO. I fully agree with you that the world is changing rapidly, and we should
achieve security in the world towards the XXI century. Safety and security are
of utmost importance for each country and for the whole world. It is very cru-
cial for Azerbaij an. Azerbaij an has a strategical location. I stress our willing-
ness of an effi
cient use of this location not only for our republic, but also for our
partners. I want to note that there are many challenges for Azerbaij an. As your
are aware, the Armenian-Azerbaij ani confl ict is still unresolved. The Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of the Azerbaij ani territory as a remet
of this confl ict. More than a million of Azerbaij ani citizens have been expelled
from the occupied territories. Now they live in tents, in terrible conditions. We
signed a ceasefi re agreement four years ago. The confl ict, however, has not
been sett led yet. We want to solve the confl ict peacefully. The Minsk Group
and co-chairs - Russia, the U.S. and France of OSCE, are engaged in this issue.
We hope that we shall achieve the peaceful sett lement of the confl ict. But we
are concerned about some other factors. For instance, while there is a ceasefi re
between Armenia and Azerbaij an, Russia supplied Armenia with ammunition
and arms worth of a billion USD illegally. We protested against it. Regretfully,
no positive feedback has been received yet. Moreover, we are concerned about
the fact that Russia keeps its military bases and armed forces in Armenia, and
to some extent in Georgia. We att empt to establish security in the Caucasus.
Countries in the Caucasus are independent states. There is no need to keep
a military base and armed forces of other countries in Armenia and Georgia.
Certainly, it impedes the maintainance of peace and security in the Caucasus.
Furthermore, I express my gratitude to you, Mr. Secretary - General for your
high appreciation of the international conference in Baku, on September 7-8,
dedicated to the restoration of the Silk Road. We establish a landmark in the
history while heading towards XXI century. Participation of delegates from 32
countries, including 9 presidents and delegates of 13 international institutions
in this conference indicates that they share the same views. Important econom-
ic issues have been discussed. The adopted decisions and statements are aimed
at ensuring peace and security in our region, at the restoration of the Silk Road.
Another international conference and the Tenth Congress of the Caucasian
Muslims were opened today in Baku. I participate in it, too. Delegates from the
Caucasus republics and from Islamic countries as well as religious leaders. The
underlying issue of the international conference is to maintain peace and se-
AZERBAIJ AN – NATO: ROAD BEGINNING FROM PARTNERSHIP
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