Azernews.Az

By Mushvig Mehdiyev

Throughout the years of its independence Azerbaijan has chosen its political path to which it remains loyal.

Novruz Mammadov, Deputy Head of Azerbaijan's Presidential Administration and Chief of the Foreign Relations Department made the remark at the press conference on January 17, Trend reports.

"However, it is necessary to pay attention to the processes taking place in the current international relations and what are the reasons behind them,” Mammadov noted.

Over the period of independence, Azerbaijan has cooperated very successfully and fruitfully in all vectors, Mammadov said, adding that the U.S. and Europe are among the most important vectors.

Mammadov also regretted that the very biased, unfair attitudes, which do not correspond to reality, are being expressed about Azerbaijan.

“The desire of certain circles in some states is not a law for us, we can’t accept it. We are open to cooperation with all countries, as it has been since the early years of our independence,” he noted.

Mammadov went on to say that in the area of political reforms, Azerbaijan is not behind the post-Soviet countries, as well as the other countries, as the situation in Azerbaijan is much better than in most of those countries.

“The energy and international cooperation, fight against terrorism, bilateral economic cooperation, as well as the country’s domestic development and independent political path are parts of Azerbaijan's desire to get a fair approach from the world,” he said.

Azerbaijan respects the interests of all states and demand them to respect its interests, Mammadov said.

“In any processes on international arena, the Azerbaijani president pursues his own foreign policy. This policy is protecting the interests of the country, state and people,” Mammadov added.

He said there are also double standards in regard to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions have been under occupation for over 20 years, while there are over a million refugees and internally displaced persons in Azerbaijan. None of the NGOs and structures in Europe and the U.S. say anything about this,” Mammadov added.

Mammadov said Azerbaijan had its own path and its own interests, and it is committed to them.

He further said there should be a certain guideline in the development of each country, some, including Armenia lack it, noting that the tension and crisis in the world are influencing Armenia even more than before.

“Armenia doesn't know what to do. It claims to be a younger brother, a slave, an outpost of Russia. At the same time, the Armenian leaders have been about three and a half years and maybe more, negotiating with the European Union,” Mammadov added during the press-conference.

The Armenian parliamentarians and other people have repeatedly said Armenia was ahead of Azerbaijan, and along with the EU, but President Serzh Sargsyan has suddenly and without any explanations made a statement that Armenia was joining the Eurasian Economic Union, Mammadov noted.

Mammadov said if a stronger country emerges, Armenia will immediately turn its back on Russia.

He added that the middle-aged and older generation of Armenia support Azerbaijan's position, while the younger generation holds a slightly different stance, as they haven't seen the past.

Commenting on the recent visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Turkey, Mammadov said it was a very important historic visit.

“First of all, it was the first visit of Azerbaijan’s president this year. It was a state visit and played an important role not only for the Azerbaijani-Turkish relations, but also for international relations,” he noted.

“The visit has been a very important step in terms of the welcoming ceremony for the president, negotiations, their content, as well as achieved results, defined tasks and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey until 2020, and the development prospects for the coming years.”

He said the visit stands at the top of the processes that have taken place between the two countries throughout the period of independence of Azerbaijan.

“There are states in the world that have historical, religious and cultural ties, but there are no similar close relations,” he said. “Today, perhaps, it is impossible to find two states in the world that are so close to each other.”

He noted that usually the presidents of Azerbaijan and Turkey meet twice a year.

“This year, there may be more of such meetings. I concede that there may be even four meetings, as one of them is related to the G20 summit invitation made to Azerbaijan’s president by his Turkish counterpart. In general, there is a rule that the host country of the summit has the right to invite any country at its own discretion,” Mammadov said.

“I think the visit will be useful for Azerbaijan in terms of the development in the political, economic, cultural and other areas, and Azerbaijan deserves to be represented at such an event,” he noted.

Mammadov also noted that during the recent visit, the Turkish side invited the Azerbaijani president to attend the ceremony dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Canakkale, to be held on April 24.

“President Aliyev was very pleased to accept the invitation,” Mammadov added.

Touching upon the terrorist attack that took place in Paris, Mammadov said the west loves to impose on others what it wants.

“Some time ago about 150 teens aged at 15 and 16 were killed in Pakistan. Why these teens were not talked about for weeks or months? Terrorists have no religion or nationality. Injustice and protecting own interests must have a limit,” he said.

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