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President Begins Visit Seeking To Remain At Arms-Length From U.S.Ten

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  • President Begins Visit Seeking To Remain At Arms-Length From U.S.Ten

    PRESIDENT BEGINS VISIT SEEKING TO REMAIN AT ARMS-LENGTH FROM U.S. TENSIONS WITH IRAN
    Barry Schweid
    Associated Press writer Aida Sultanova contributed to this report

    AP Worldstream
    Apr 26, 2006

    While pledging ccontinued support to counter terrorism, President
    Ilham Aliev of Azerbaijan said Wednesday, "Azerbaijan will not be
    engaged in any kind of potential operation against Iran."

    Aliev opened a three-day visit Wednesday seeking to remain at
    arms-length from rising U.S. tensions with Iran.

    He cited a "very clear" agreement with Iran that that the two countries
    would not permit their territory to be used for operations against
    the other.

    Aliev, who is due to meet with President George W. Bush on Friday at
    the White House, spoke at the private Council on Foreign Relations.

    He said his Caspian Sea nation, which shares a border with Iran
    where 30 million Azeris live, and with Russia, wanted to remain an
    "island of stability" in the tough neighborhood.

    At the same time, Aliev said Azerbaijan had sent troops to Iraq,
    Afghanistan and Kosovo, and would "do its best to stand shoulder to
    shoulder" with the United States on security.

    The president, who took office in October 2003, has the potential to
    be an intermediary between the Bush administration and Iran.

    Iranian Defense Minister Mustafa Mohammad Najjar, on a visit to Baku
    last week, said Aliev could use his talks in Washington to "explain"
    Iran's views to the United States.

    Next week, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is due in Baku for
    a regional economic conference.

    Aliev said he did not think Iran would be a "major aspect" of his
    talks in Washington, which are due to include a meeting with Vice
    President Dick Cheney.

    But he said "if the question of regional security arises we will
    discuss it."

    Azerbaijan is committed to peace in the region, he said. "We need to
    try to provide peace and stability."

    "At this time," he said, "it is best to concentrate on a peaceful
    resolution" of the dispute over Iran's nuclear programs, which the
    United States and European allies say seek development of a nuclear
    bomb.

    On another issue, due to be aired during Aliev's visit, he conceded
    there was a need for political reform in his country, a former Soviet
    republic of 7.9 million which became independent 16 years ago.

    Referring to Azerbaijan's energy boom, Aliev said "economic reform
    without political reform will lead to severe problems."

    He said his country was moving forward on both fronts.

    Freedom House on Tuesday said Azerbaijan restricts political and human
    rights and is among the lowest-ranked countries in the private rights
    group's annual surveys.

    "President Bush has made democracy promotion a priority of his
    presidency," Freedom House executive director Jennifer Windsor said
    in a statement. "His upcoming meeting with President Aliev presents
    an important opportunity for him to discuss Azerbaijan's democracy
    deficit."

    Aliev, in response to questions Wednesday, rejected the description of
    his government as a "regime" and said 'we have all the major freedoms."

    Critics have questioned whether U.S. criticism would be muted due to
    Azerbaijan's role in supplying the West with Caspian Sea oil.

    In his remarks, Aliev spoke most about a dispute with Armenia over
    the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave of Azerbaijian. Ethnic Armenian forces
    hold the region, in what Aliev called an occupation.

    He said Azerbaijan's recovery of the territory was not subject to
    negotiations.

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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