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AMBASSADOR: AZERBAIJAN DOES EVERYTHING NECESSARY TO BE ADEQUATELY REPRESENTED AT UN SECURITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS
Trend
Sept 12 2011
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan is doing everything necessary to be adequately represented
at the UN Security Council elections, Azerbaijani Permanent
Representative to the UN, Ambassador Agshin Mehdiyev told Trend.
"A month remains before the elections," Mehdiyev said. "At present,
three countries - Azerbaijan, Slovenia, and Hungary - compete for
one seat given to the Eastern European group in the Security Council.
Competitors are strong. They rely on the EU to support and do
everything they can to win the upcoming elections."
Mehdiyev said that Azerbaijan is actively working with its allies.
"The Permanent Mission and the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry work to
inform the international community about the current situation in
Azerbaijan, the country's activity on the international scene, and
the economic and cultural development of our country," Mehdiyev said.
"This is not a secret that Azerbaijan is gradually turning into one
of the regional leaders. We hope that this factor will play its role."
However, Mehdiyev stressed that the situation is extremely complex. He
did not advise anyone to make predictions about the final election
results.
Mehdiyev stressed that work being done within the UN Security Council
elections campaign, regardless of election results, will have long-term
consequences.
However, the envoy stressed that the situation is extremely complex
and strongly advises considering the possibilities for the final
election's outcome.
"Several groups of foreign countries' permanent representatives at the
United Nations have recently visited our country," Mehdiyev said. "The
Diplomatic Academy and the Azerbaijani Permanent Mission to the UN
have organized ten-year courses for diplomats from over 40 countries."
These people could see and objectively assess the processes occurring
in our country and the region during their visit, Mehdiyev said.
The information will be helpful allowing them to assess the situation
in our country and region in the future, Mehdiyev said.
"In other words, Azerbaijan and our competitors are doing everything
necessary to be adequately represented at the elections," Mehdiyev
said.
Commenting on the Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian's
recent statement on Azerbaijan's participation in the elections as a
non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Mehdiyev said that
this was not the first time that Armenians have tried to speak on
this issue at varying levels.
"In negotiating on its association with the EU, Azerbaijan is
competing with two EU member states - Hungary and Slovenia - for
membership in the Security Council," the Armenian media reported
Nalbandian as saying in Yerevan last week. "It assumes that it will
fulfill its responsibilities as a member of the organization better
than EU member-states."
"Well, first of all, I would say to those who are unaware, that
until recently, Armenia was the fourth candidate from our group to the
position in the UN Security Council," he said. "However, realizing that
they are unable to resist Azerbaijan during the upcoming elections,
the Armenians decided to withdraw their candidacy. Perhaps it was
the right decision - because they had zero chances."
He regretted that while remaining true to themselves, the Armenians
began a campaign to counter Azerbaijan within the election campaign.
"Permanent representatives of several countries complained to me
that the Armenians were trying to influence them not to support the
candidacy of our country," he said. "Moreover, we have information
that Armenian official bodies joined the attempts to blackmail some
countries in this regard.
"Regarding recent comments made by Armenia, great people said that
stupidity is a gift from God; one that should not be abused," he
added. "But the Armenians tried too hard."
Mehdiyev said that no one in Azerbaijan has claimed the country's
election into the Security Council will represent EU interests,
or anything along such lines.
"If Azerbaijan is elected to the Security Council, our activity will
be based on the national interests of our country," he said. "It is
the cornerstone of our foreign policy. Of course, we will consider the
interests organizations which include Azerbaijan. This includes the
Organization for Islamic Cooperation, the Non-Aligned Movement, etc."
"Of course, if Azerbaijan is elected to the UN Security Council, it
will boost UN authority because for the first time the South Caucasus
country will become a member of the Security Council," he said. "This
is a young country; it regained its state independence only recently,
conducts a truly independent foreign policy, and has never before
been represented in the UN Security Council."
Azerbaijan's election to the UN Security Council will also confirm the
democratic principles of the organization, as Azerbaijan will join
the organization for the first time, whereas other two candidates -
Hungary and Slovenia were members of the Council in different years,
he said.
Trend
Sept 12 2011
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan is doing everything necessary to be adequately represented
at the UN Security Council elections, Azerbaijani Permanent
Representative to the UN, Ambassador Agshin Mehdiyev told Trend.
"A month remains before the elections," Mehdiyev said. "At present,
three countries - Azerbaijan, Slovenia, and Hungary - compete for
one seat given to the Eastern European group in the Security Council.
Competitors are strong. They rely on the EU to support and do
everything they can to win the upcoming elections."
Mehdiyev said that Azerbaijan is actively working with its allies.
"The Permanent Mission and the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry work to
inform the international community about the current situation in
Azerbaijan, the country's activity on the international scene, and
the economic and cultural development of our country," Mehdiyev said.
"This is not a secret that Azerbaijan is gradually turning into one
of the regional leaders. We hope that this factor will play its role."
However, Mehdiyev stressed that the situation is extremely complex. He
did not advise anyone to make predictions about the final election
results.
Mehdiyev stressed that work being done within the UN Security Council
elections campaign, regardless of election results, will have long-term
consequences.
However, the envoy stressed that the situation is extremely complex
and strongly advises considering the possibilities for the final
election's outcome.
"Several groups of foreign countries' permanent representatives at the
United Nations have recently visited our country," Mehdiyev said. "The
Diplomatic Academy and the Azerbaijani Permanent Mission to the UN
have organized ten-year courses for diplomats from over 40 countries."
These people could see and objectively assess the processes occurring
in our country and the region during their visit, Mehdiyev said.
The information will be helpful allowing them to assess the situation
in our country and region in the future, Mehdiyev said.
"In other words, Azerbaijan and our competitors are doing everything
necessary to be adequately represented at the elections," Mehdiyev
said.
Commenting on the Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian's
recent statement on Azerbaijan's participation in the elections as a
non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Mehdiyev said that
this was not the first time that Armenians have tried to speak on
this issue at varying levels.
"In negotiating on its association with the EU, Azerbaijan is
competing with two EU member states - Hungary and Slovenia - for
membership in the Security Council," the Armenian media reported
Nalbandian as saying in Yerevan last week. "It assumes that it will
fulfill its responsibilities as a member of the organization better
than EU member-states."
"Well, first of all, I would say to those who are unaware, that
until recently, Armenia was the fourth candidate from our group to the
position in the UN Security Council," he said. "However, realizing that
they are unable to resist Azerbaijan during the upcoming elections,
the Armenians decided to withdraw their candidacy. Perhaps it was
the right decision - because they had zero chances."
He regretted that while remaining true to themselves, the Armenians
began a campaign to counter Azerbaijan within the election campaign.
"Permanent representatives of several countries complained to me
that the Armenians were trying to influence them not to support the
candidacy of our country," he said. "Moreover, we have information
that Armenian official bodies joined the attempts to blackmail some
countries in this regard.
"Regarding recent comments made by Armenia, great people said that
stupidity is a gift from God; one that should not be abused," he
added. "But the Armenians tried too hard."
Mehdiyev said that no one in Azerbaijan has claimed the country's
election into the Security Council will represent EU interests,
or anything along such lines.
"If Azerbaijan is elected to the Security Council, our activity will
be based on the national interests of our country," he said. "It is
the cornerstone of our foreign policy. Of course, we will consider the
interests organizations which include Azerbaijan. This includes the
Organization for Islamic Cooperation, the Non-Aligned Movement, etc."
"Of course, if Azerbaijan is elected to the UN Security Council, it
will boost UN authority because for the first time the South Caucasus
country will become a member of the Security Council," he said. "This
is a young country; it regained its state independence only recently,
conducts a truly independent foreign policy, and has never before
been represented in the UN Security Council."
Azerbaijan's election to the UN Security Council will also confirm the
democratic principles of the organization, as Azerbaijan will join
the organization for the first time, whereas other two candidates -
Hungary and Slovenia were members of the Council in different years,
he said.