Azernews.Az

Azerbaijan`s foreign policy on the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict with Armenia should be of offensive nature, President Ilham Aliyev has said.
"Armenia`s policy of occupation should be condemned on all levels," he told a meeting of Azerbaijani ambassadors in Baku on Monday.
Armenia has been occupying over 20% of Azerbaijani territory since the early 1990s in defiance of international law.
Aliyev said one of the tasks of Azerbaijan`s envoys was to convey the truth about the Garabagh conflict to the world community. He lauded the results achieved in this area, saying the country`s territorial integrity is supported on all levels and international organizations back the Garabagh settlement in line with these principles, with no exceptions.
"This stance builds on the norms of human rights, historical realities and Azerbaijan`s ever-growing influence on the world political stage," the head of state said.
Speaking of the global energy projects being implemented by Azerbaijan, Aliyev said these projects contributed to global energy security.
Outlining the priorities in Baku`s foreign political course, he said great responsibility rests with Azerbaijani diplomats in their successful realization. Therefore, the ambassadors should forge close ties with government agencies of the countries they work in, do their utmost to convey the realities about Azerbaijan to the international community, and defend the country`s political and economic interests.
At the third such meeting to last till Friday, the outcomes of activity of the Azerbaijani diplomatic missions abroad will be presented and discussions held on future plans and prospects. The envoys are then expected to head to the frontline Fuzuli district.
The first meeting of Azerbaijani ambassadors took place in 2004. It was decided then that such meetings would be held once every two years.
Commenting on the meeting, Deputy Director of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at the John Hopkins University, Svante Cornell, said there should be a single concept of Azerbaijani diplomacy as well as a strategy on foreign policy, the Garabagh problem and energy.
Azerbaijan has forged diplomatic relations with 160 countries so far. 57 embassies, consulates and representations of international orghanizations are operating in the country. 56 Azerbaijani diplomatic missions, including 47 embasises, are operating abroad.