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President Aliyev left for Minsk, Belorussia, Thursday to attend the CIS summit on December 1. In an interview with journalists before departure, H. Aliyev said he would raise the issue of the threat posed to Azerbaijan by Russian weaponry supplies from Georgia to Garabagh and Armenia.

Asked whether he would discuss the issue of settlement of Kurdish refugees in Upper Garabagh with his Armenian counterpart, H. Aliyev answered affirmatively, saying though that he did not have accurate information to this effect.

With regard to the statement by Iranian Defense Minister Mr. Salimi that NATO military forces were allegedly being stationed in the Caspian under the pretext of oil exploration and that Tehran would eliminate such threat, the President said it was a wrong allegation. The US is to hand two patrol motor-boats to Azerbaijan, but these have not arrived yet, he added.

The President gave a positive assessment to the parliamentary elections held in Azerbaijan, adding that the existing drawbacks would be eliminated by all means.

Touching upon the refusal of the opposition to take part in the Milli Mejlis and a demand to conduct another election, the President said it was up to the opposition itself.

H. Aliyev also commented on the materials in Russian media, suggesting that by getting closer to Russia, Azerbaijan is allegedly punishing the West for failing to resolve the Garabagh problem.

"H. Aliyev can only punish Azeri citizens, not any country", he said and added that Azerbaijan is trying to build mutually beneficial and equal relations with all countries, including neighboring ones.

Concerning provision of shelter to those made homeless by the earthquake, H. Aliyev said it would be done. The special commission has already done a lot, he said. 25 billion manats have been allocated for restoration operations, with more funds to be allotted in the future.

In regard to the Caspian status issue, H. Aliyev did not rule out the fact that a bilateral agreement to this effect could be signed during Russian President Putin's visit to Azerbaijan.

Background meetings

CIS premiers and foreign ministers met in Minsk Thursday to launch preparations for the Commonwealth Summit. Prime Ministers focused on issues pertaining to licensing national quotas in establishing a free trade zone, financing an anti-terrorist center and expanding economic ties within the Commonwealth.

Azerbaijan was represented by the first vice-premier Abbas Abbasov and foreign minister Vilayat Guliyev.

Summit

President Aliyev returned to Azerbaijan in the early hours of December 2.

During the summit, attended by all CIS heads of state except Turkmenian (which delegated prime minister), a resolution on establishing an anti-terrorist center was adopted. The Azerbaijan party suggested that the center be of information-analytical and consultative nature.

An agreement was signed to combat money laundering within the Commonwealth.

Heads of state also adopted a joint statement on shutting down the Chernobyl Atomic Power Station.

The meeting participants agreed to hold the next CIS Summit also in Minsk in March 2001.

The broad meeting at the level of delegations focused on free trade zone prospects in the Commonwealth. It was indicated that in 7 months of this year, the turnover among CIS member-states constituted $33.67 billion, or 38% over last year’s.

On December 1, President Aliyev met with his Ukrainian counterpart Leonid Kuchma to exchange views on cooperation within the GUUAM.

Azeri president then met with Armenian president Robert Kocharian to talk over the current status in peace negotiations.

After the meeting, H. Aliyev told journalists, “We have both voiced our concern with the fact that the conflict is still dragging on and we have yet to find a lasting solution to it. We have agreed not to change the existing formula for the negotiations - a need for mutual compromise. Besides, we have underlined that it is the two presidents who must find a way of resolving the dispute, of course, with the aid of international organizations”.

Armenian President Kocharian said, “We have decided not only to continue talks, but to intensify them. Of course, we would like the year 2001 to be a crucial year in the peace settlement. It is very important to achieve solution before the next elections in both countries. If we fail to do it before then, it may then be too difficult to change anything. It is beyond a doubt that the solution lies through mutual compromises. I am happy with our meeting results.”

Useful Summit

“The meeting of CIS heads of state was useful and all of the issues discussed represented importance, President Aliyev told journalists after returning to Baku.

Asked of his assessment of the CIS prospects in the new century, H. Aliyev answered that the organization is becoming increasingly useful. Having until recently been a mere formality, the Commonwealth is assuming a more specific nature, especially for the development of relations among member-states.

H. Aliyev answered negatively the question whether Azerbaijan could go for the proposed economic cooperation with Armenia. He said he had never shared the opinion that an economic collaboration could bring about mutual confidence between the two nations.

"I do not think this may help us resolve the conflict. For that, we need to make serious decisions", he stated.

In reply to the question if Azerbaijan and Russia would sign a Caspian status deal similar to the Russo-Kazakhstani one, H. Aliyev said, "When President Putin comes to Azerbaijan, we will sign a joint declaration or a statement in this respect."

However, the president declined to spell out what principles such agreement could be based upon.