Deputy Premier Ali Hasanov: Azerbaijan will liberate its territories in any way"

Baku, August 24, AZERTAC "Azerbaijan will liberate its territories in any way," said Deputy Prime Minster of the Republic of Azerbaijan, chairman of the State Committee for Refugee and IDP Affairs Ali Hasanov as he met Director of FCO's Department of Eastern Europe and Central Asia of Great Britain Michael Tatham. Ali Hasanov said British delegations visited Azerbaijan regularly and noted the country praised it. He noted that all these meetings featured discussions on Azerbaijan's main problem - the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Deputy Premier said 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territories were occupied as a result of the dispute and over 1 million people became refugees and IDPs. Mr. Hasanov said Azerbaijan faced double standards in the international arena. He noted decisions and declarations of the UN Security Council and other international organizations on liberation of the occupied territories had not been fulfilled by Armenia. Ali Hasanov said the OSCE Minsk group engaged in settling the conflict. The Deputy Premier noted President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev conducted independent policy. Michael Tatham said it was his first visit to Azerbaijan and praised ongoing development processes in Baku. Mr. Tatham said Great Britain attached great importance to the relations with Azerbaijan and interested in enhancing of these ties. He said the two countries had excellent relations, especially in trade, economic, and energy sectors. "Our position is clear: The occupation must be stopped, and refugees and IDPs must be returned to their mother lands. We support the OSCE Minsk Group's activity but it upsets us also that the organizations achieved no serious progresses," said Michael Tatham.