Azerbaijani Minister Speaks on Regional Issues
Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Beyukaga oglu Azimov visited Bilkent Bilkent University on March 11 to deliver a seminar titled, "The Security of Southern Caucasia and Azerbaijan-Turkey Cooperation." Mr. Azimov, deputy foreign minister of Azerbaijan since 1994, was born in Baku, Azerbaijan in 1963, attended Azerbaijan State University from 1978 to 1984, and holds the diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. He opened the seminar by saying "I am pleased to be a guest for the first time at Bilkent University."
Mr. Azimov discussed issues on the agenda of both Turkey and Azerbaijan, affirming that "Turkey and Azerbaijan are tightly connected partners, and together they have accumulated many achievements. Now, we have to have to protect and maintain the accomplishments and take them to the next step." Azimov mentioned such accomplishments as educational, cultural, political, and business collaborations.
Mr. Azimov also briefly mentioned the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh that has troubled the region since 1988 and said, "Azerbaijan is not interested in a military solution to the Armenian conflict but a peaceful communication with the Armenian community." However, deputy foreign minister did shift blame onto Armenia for continued conflict, saying that, "the Armenian side aimed at separation and disintegration, which will not bring anything good."
In March 1993, Turkey and Azerbaijan signed the first agreement on a pipeline to carry crude oil from the landlocked Caspian Sea to Turkey's Mediterranean Coast, named the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. The pipeline is 1768 km long and first delivered oil to Ceyhan in 2006. Mr. Azimov commented, "Pipelines connect us in more ways than just in oil. Turkey and Azerbaijan must keep up with changing technologies to stay competitive."
Mr. Azimov closed his presentation with a mention of Bilkent's beloved founder by saying, "Prof. İhsan Doğramacı was great man with much political wisdom. With Bilkent, he created a model for the rest of the region of business and education."