General Debate of the 64th Session (2009)
Azerbaijan
H.E. Elmar Maharram oglu Mammadyarov, Minister for Foreign Affairs
25 September 2009
As a result of Armenia’s aggression, almost one fifth of Azerbaijan’s territory had been occupied and some 1 million Azerbaijanis had become refugees and internally displaced persons, he said. Four Security Council resolutions recognized Nagorny Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan, and called for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the occupying forces. General Assembly resolution 62/243 expressed support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and the advocated a step-by-step approach to settling the conflict.
He said a number of important steps must be taken, starting with the withdrawal of Armenian forces from all occupied territories and the return of internally displaced persons to their homes. That would pave the way for durable peace and stability in the region, which would be conducive to the elaboration of the legal status of Nagorny Karabakh within Azerbaijan, taking due account of the wishes of both Azeri and Armenian communities of the region. Armenia’s acceptance of the step-by-step approach based on the decisions reflected in the Joint Declaration signed in Moscow in 2008 by the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Armenia and the Russian Federation was a positive sign.
Azerbaijan had minimized the impact of the global economic downturn and managed to sustain its growth, he said, adding that, since 2003, the poverty rate had dropped from 44 to 13 per cent. The country’s modern energy infrastructure, coupled with vast energy resources, had transformed Azerbaijan into an energy hub of international importance and contributed to the development of neighbouring States. Today was a time of heightened religious and ethnic awareness, which in certain instances was maliciously exploited to fuel conflicts on ethnic, religious or cultural grounds. Azerbaijan supported fully the Secretary-General’s recommendations to remove hate messages, distortions, prejudice and negative bias from educational media and to ensure basic knowledge and understanding of the world’s main cultures and religions. Azerbaijan had been among the first countries to join the Alliance of Civilizations initiative of Turkey and Spain.
Source: GA/10863
PERMANENT MISSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN
TO THE UNITED NATIONS
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Statement
by H.E. Mr. Elmar Mammadyarov
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan
General Debates
of the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly
25 September 2009, New York
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to join the previous speakers and congratulate H.E. Mr. Ali Abdussalam
Treki of Libya on his election to the post of the President of the 64th session of the
United Nations General Assembly and wish him every success, and I thank his
predecessor Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann for his work.
I also express my profound respect and appreciation to the Secretary-General of the
United Nations H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon for his leadership in mobilizing the
international community to make our world a better place to live.
Mr. President,
We all recognise that the security of every State in the world can be better promoted
and ensured with a multilateral security system. This paradigm was a principal reason
behind creation of the collective security system with the United Nations
Organization at its core.
Yet, after more than 60 years since the United Nations was founded, the question still
remains valid whether the contemporary international security architecture is
effectively and timely addressing the multifaceted and interconnected challenges and
threats confronting our today’s world?
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The global character of today’s challenges and threats makes the geographic distance
irrelevant in security policy formulation, since the threats as we know them today
transcend the national frontiers and the whole continents. The indirect repercussions
of the threats may be as much devastating and costly as the direct impact. The
interconnected and intertwined nature of the threats requires reconsidering the very
concept of security in broader terms that is not confined to the traditional military
aspect of security, but comprises also political, economic, energy, cultural,
information and other dimensions.
The security of each State, and more broadly, the international peace and security will
depend on whether States follow the norms and principles of international law and
use them as a guiding tool for shaping their foreign and security policies. Following
common set of norms and rules on the international arena contributes to the
transparency and predictability of State behaviour and hence consolidates
international peace and security.
Unfortunately, unlawful use of force is still not removed from the context of
international relations. Today civilian populations are still suffering in many places
around the world due to the manifest failure of individual States to fulfil their most
basic and compelling responsibilities. Armed conflicts, military aggression and
foreign occupation involving the most serious international crimes are only a few
vivid examples from our recent history of the bitter consequences of noncompliance
by individual States with the norms and principles of international law. Governments
failing to obey the rules of international conduct will inevitably infringe upon the
individual liberties and freedoms at home, thus undermining the democratic
development.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The most vivid example of misconduct of the norms and principles of international
law is almost two decades long and still unresolved Armenian-Azerbaijan Nagorno-
Karabakh conflict which also stands out as a major threat to international and
regional peace and security. As a result of the aggression conducted by Armenia
almost one-fifth of the territory of Azerbaijan has been occupied, approximately 1
million ethnically cleansed Azerbaijani population has become internally displaced
and refugees, thousands of Azerbaijani historical-cultural heritage devastated and
looted.
The United Nations Security Council in its four resolutions on the conflict reaffirmed
the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and the inadmissibility of the
use of force for the acquisition of territory of the other state. It has also recognized
Nagorno-Karabakh as a part of Azerbaijan and called for immediate, complete and
unconditional withdrawal of the occupying forces from all occupied territories of
Azerbaijan. The United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 62/243 of 14 March
2008, entitled “The situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan”, expressed
respect and support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within its
internationally recognized borders.
The approach of the United Nations Security Council and the General Assembly reflected
in the above-mentioned resolutions is fully consistent with the position of Azerbaijan,
which from the beginning advocated for a step-by-step approach to the conflict settlement
as the only viable option. A number of important steps have to be taken, starting with
the withdrawal of Armenian forces from all the occupied territories, rehabilitation of
these territories and return of the internally displaced persons to their homes in and
around the Nagorno-Karabakh region, opening of all communications for the mutual
use. This will allow removing the consequences of the conflict and will pave the way for
the establishment of durable peace and stability in the region conducive to the
elaboration of the legal status of the Nagorno-Karabakh region within Azerbaijan
with due account of the equally heard voices of the Azerbaijani and Armenian
communities of the region.
The current settlement process gives some hopes for breaking the stalemate in the
resolution of the conflict. The acceptance by Armenia of the step-by-step approach to
the settlement of the conflict on the basis of the principles and norms of international
law and the decisions and documents adopted in this framework as reflected in the
Joint Declaration signed in Moscow in November 2008 by the Presidents of
Azerbaijan, Armenia and the Russian Federation is a positive sign.
Azerbaijan is ready to continue talks with Armenia’s leadership for the secure and
stable South Caucasus region and beyond which will allow using the ample regional
opportunities for the benefit of all.
Excellencies,
Against the background of the above-mentioned negative developments in the region
let me briefly share positive economic performance of my country. Azerbaijan
minimized the impact of the global economic downturn on its economy and
managed to sustain the growth. In 2009 the national economy has retained its
dynamism and as of today the GDP growth is recorded at almost 4 %. Since 2003 we
have recorded the drop in the poverty rate to 13 percent from 44 percent. The
Government of Azerbaijan has substantially improved trade and investment
conditions in an effort to strengthen national competitiveness and spur private sector
development, especially in the non-oil segment. Non-oil GDP grew at almost 16%,
the highest rate in 5 years. In recognition of the results-oriented reforms and thoughtthrough
economic policy Azerbaijan are qualified by the World Bank as one of the
world’s top reformers.
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Strategically located Azerbaijan with young, skilled population, ample resources and
dynamic economy is inevitably taking a leading role in the region and increasingly
becomes a pivotal player and credible actor beyond the region.
The successful implementation of the infrastructure projects such as Baku-Supsa,
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan export oil pipelines and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline
boosted not only our economy, but also contributed to the development of
neighbouring States. The modern energy infrastructure coupled with the vast energy
resources transformed Azerbaijan into an energy hub of international importance.
Azerbaijan has proven itself as a reliable partner and indispensable, secure energy
source for Europe and beyond.
Location of Azerbaijan at the crossroads of the East-West and North-South major
transport corridors and rapidly developing national transportation infrastructure
connected to the regional highway and railroad networks highlights the strategic
importance of Azerbaijan. Completion of the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars
railroad and commissioning of the brand new seaport Alat on the Azerbaijani coast of
the Caspian Sea will increase the role of Azerbaijan as a communication hub linking
Europe with Asia.
Azerbaijan also has put forward an initiative to establish a Trans-Eurasian Super
Information Highway, which is expected to serve as a major element of the East-
West transport corridor and facilitate the supply of 20 regional countries with
internet, telecommunication systems, e-information resources and e-economies.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today, we are living at a time of heightened religious and ethnic awareness, which in
certain instances takes on exaggerated forms and sometimes is being maliciously
exploited to fuel conflicts on ethnic, religious or cultural grounds. The broad
recognition by the Member States of the United Nations of the role of the dialogue
among civilizations, and specifically of inter-cultural and inter-religious harmony in
maintaining international peace and security can only be praised.
We fully support the recommendations of the Secretary-General on the importance of
increasing educational efforts to remove hate messages, distortions, prejudice, and
negative bias from textbooks and other educational media, and ensuring the basic
knowledge and understanding of the world’s main cultures, civilizations and
religions.
As a country where long-standing traditions of tolerance and peaceful coexistence of
different religions and ethnic groups over centuries became an inseparable part of the
culture, Azerbaijan has repeatedly demonstrated its determination to act as a natural
bridge bringing together different continents, cultures and civilizations through
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promotion of inter-religious and intercultural dialogue based on mutual respect and
understanding among peoples of different cultures and religions.
Azerbaijan was among the first countries to join the Alliance of Civilizations
initiative of Turkey and Spain. With a view to translating the recommendations
contained in the “Alliance of Civilizations” report of the High-Level Group appointed
by the U.N. Secretary-General into concrete actions, over the past years Azerbaijan
hosted a number of important events. Most recently, we held Baku Forum on
Expanding the Role of Women in Cross-cultural Dialogue, which we believe will
raise the awareness of the role of women in intercultural dialogue. In December 2008
we hosted the Conference of Culture Ministers of the Council of Europe Member
States. For the first time in the history of the Council of Europe the ministers of the
Member States of ISESCO and ALECSO joined the event. The adopted Baku
Declaration envisages inter alia intercultural dialogue between European and
neighbouring States.
At the Fifth Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers the capital of Azerbaijan Baku
was declared the Islamic Culture Capital for 2009. This autumn we will be hosting
the Sixth Conference of Culture Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Conference,
where we will continue discussions of our future actions in fostering dialogue among
civilizations.
Mr. President,
The multilateral system with the United Nations at its heart undergoes serious
changes that test its strength, viability and credibility. This requires more dedicated
efforts aimed at strengthening the United Nations and promoting the effectiveness of
the Organization through the implementation of its decisions and resolutions.
Azerbaijan believes that, as the only truly global organization, the United Nations has to
be stronger and capable in engaging in a range of pressing global issues in every part
of the world, as well as in addressing aspirations and concerns of each Member State.
We continue supporting the reform of the Organization, so that it could be renewed,
revitalized and more responsive.
Thank you!