INTERVIEWS
Today we are in the offensive position
Q: Azerbaijan is strengthening its position in the system of international relations. The country`s relations are developing both in bilateral and multilateral formats, and it is successfully represented in international organizations. What is your opinion?
A:thanks to policy of President Ilham Aliyev Azerbaijan is rapidly developing, and already enjoys very strong international image. The major factor proving this is that no project can be realized in the regional without Azerbaijan`s involvement and consent. Azerbaijan has a very strong voice in the region.
Our international positions strengthened. Azerbaijan’s international relations, both bilaterally and multilaterally, became broader and stronger. In all international organizations, of which we are members, we carried out an active policy and gained great international support.
I would like to stress one point: during the voting in the United Nations Azerbaijan supported territorial integrity of Ukraine. But countries like Armenia have their moves dictated. Surely, some circles are concerned about Azerbaijan`s pursuing independent policy. And they are trying to prevent this by creating problems for our country. But they can never reach their goal. Our president relies on his people, and is committed to protecting the national interests of Azerbaijan.
I recently visited Harvard University. The University`s employees praised the policy of the Azerbaijani president, particularly with regard to the Ukrainian issue.
At the same time, our foreign policies pursued in a bilateral format have also been successful. The number of our friends is growing. There is a growing number of those who want to cooperate with Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is noted for its principled stance in the world. Azerbaijan is known as a reliable partner. Our word and our signature are equally powerful.
Q: Azerbaijan`s independent energy policy helped ensure the energy security of the region and beyond, and made Azerbaijan one of the largest energy producers in the world. Many countries consider Azerbaijan a reliable energy partner. What can you say of this?
A:We achieved this thanks to the wisdom and foresight of our national leader Heydar Aliyev. Just three years after gaining independence, one year after the end of the civil war in Azerbaijan and four months after the ceasefire in the war with Armenia, Azerbaijan signed "the Contract of the Century" with foreign partners. This event opened the Caspian Sea to foreign investors for the first time and ensured the successful economic development of our country. This contract was called "the Contract of the 20th century".
In 1996, an agreement was signed on the Shah Deniz gas field, and then in 1999, the first pipeline was built linking the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea coast of Georgia. Then, in 2006, the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export pipeline was built linking the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean Sea and international markets, and in 2007 – the Southern Gas Pipeline. This pipeline connected Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey to another project, which is an integral part of the current ceremony.
Azerbaijan and the European Union signed a memorandum on strategic energy cooperation. It also, in turn, facilitated the implementation of the energy strategy of our country and diversification of energy supplies to Europe. Last year we signed with Turkey a historic agreement on the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline – TANAP. And this year, the TAP project was selected as a major export route. TANAP and TAP are among the world's largest energy projects.
Q: Some circles are trying to put pressure on Azerbaijan. Don`t you think the Human Rights Watch`sbiased position and reports on Azerbaijan is an attempt to exert pressure on Azerbaijan?
A: we have seen many such reports. It is pro-Armenian forces that do not want to see Azerbaijan`s development that are behind such reports. The world is now dominated by double standards. Everybody sees that countries which pursue their own independent policy. Organizations such as the Human Rights Watch are non-governmental organizations, which do not reflect any government official stance. What they do is just to confuse the general public. The Azerbaijani government is doing all necessary work to prevent such cases. Today we are in the offensive position.
There are many organizations like the Human Rights Watch. They transfer information to people like Leyla Yunus. And nobody doubts that Leyla Yunus had a hand in the occupation of Azerbaijan`s lands, and was transmitting information to the Armenia side.
Any attempts to damage Azerbaijan`s image will be unsuccessful, and will never remain unanswered.
Q: What about the activities of the YAP Nasimi district branch?
A: YAP`s Nasimi branch is part of the party`s large family. Our branch groups nearly 25,000 people, of which 43% are youth. We rely on the strength and intellect of our youth.
I would like to note that our branch covers a large part of Baku. Members of our party are very active in the country`s socio-political life.
Recently we have held a conference of the YAP Nasimi district branch`s Women Council. The meeting saw some organizational changes made. Party activist Gulara Verdiyeva was elected new chairperson of the Women Council. Some changes were made to the Board of Directors and the Council.