Azernews.Az

President Ilham Aliyev has strongly criticized the forces opposing and ``irritated`` over Azerbaijan`s independent policy, saying the country will continue to respond to their ``baseless attacks`` and ``will never be involved in other states` plans``.

``Having availed of emerging opportunities, they are trying to engage in provocations, to spread information of false and libelous nature,`` President Aliyev told a cabinet meeting on Monday. ``Currently, the media is not just a source of information, but is also a source of provocations. We, on our end, have to be ready to this, and we are. We have to respond, are and will be responding to each baseless attack.``

The president said the ``information provocations`` against Azerbaijan are not confined to the mentioned facts. Aliyev said there are forces trying to ``muddle up the situation in the region`` and set Azerbaijan against neighboring states, and they resort to such provocations in pursuit of their aims.

``What else could they use [to reach their goals]? Nothing else is possible, because our relations with our neighbors lean on historical roots. We have established normal, good and friendly relations with all our neighbors -- naturally, excluding Armenia [which occupies a part of Azerbaijan`s territory] -- and we are strengthening these friendly ties and will continue to do so. We have no problems with any of our neighbors.``

Aliyev noted that he has repeatedly made clear that Azerbaijan will never be part of other countries` plans.

``I stated this as early as at the start of my presidential tenure. Azerbaijan will not be turned into an arena for stand-off, and whoever wants to turn it into such an arena, let them go ahead and look for it elsewhere. We could never allow for our territory to be used in some adverse plans aimed against our neighbors, and everyone is aware of that,`` the president said, apparently referring to rumors that Azerbaijani territory could be used for a Western strike on Iran.

Aliyev stressed that a hostile campaign is being pursued against Azerbaijan in the media ahead of the Eurovision song contest due in Baku in late May.

``We know well which forces are behind this campaign,`` the president said. ``We are well aware in which country`s media this campaign progresses faster. There are countries where filthy and libelous reports defying Azerbaijan are circulated not just every week, but on a daily basis. Certainly, this is a policy pursued in a coordinated manner. But this policy is and will be fruitless, because there is no force capable of influencing our policy and there will never be one as long as I am in office. We will follow our own path, the path of independence and freedom!``