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  • BAKU: Azeri experts downplay Cyprus threats

    Azeri experts downplay Cyprus threats

    Ekho, Baku
    3 Aug 05

    Azerbaijani politicians have downplayed recent threats of Cyprus
    against Azerbaijan after a direct flight from Baku carried a group of
    Azerbaijani businessmen to Northern Cyprus. They said that the threats
    and acts of the government of Cyprus will not impact Azerbaijan's
    relations with the rest of the world. The following is the excerpt
    from report by N. Aliyev and R. Rzayev in Azerbaijani newspaper Ekho
    on 3 August headlined "Cyprus threatens Azerbaijan with international
    organizations" and subheaded "But they are convinced in Baku that the
    threats of Greek Cypriots are unfounded and fully unfair"; Subheadings
    have been inserted editorially:

    The government of Cyprus is reconsidering a whole spectrum of
    relations with Azerbaijan by involving many European and world
    entities. Financial Mirror published in Cyprus says that Nicosia's
    efforts have already led to the deterioration of relations between
    European entities and a wide range of countries on the one hand and
    Baku on the other.

    The authorities in Greek Cyprus aim to convince Baku to stop direct
    flights to Northern Cyprus. A group of Azerbaijani businessmen made a
    trip to the Turkish part of Cyprus last week on a direct flight from
    Baku operated by Imair [private Azerbaijani company].

    "The government of Cyprus hopes that Azerbaijan will respect
    international laws and the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus,"
    the permanent secretary of the foreign minister of Cyprus, Sotos
    Zackheos, has told CNN. The president of Cyprus, Tasos Papadhopoulos,
    Foreign Minister Yeoryios Iakovou and Minister of Communications and
    Works Kharis Thrasou have sent official letters to their Azerbaijani
    counterparts.

    [Passage omitted: more about protests by Greek Cyprus]

    "Unsubstantiated and unfair"

    "The statements by Greek Cypriots are unsubstantiated and fully unfair
    threats," a member of the standing commission on international issues
    of the Azerbaijani parliament and the chairman of the Democratic
    Reforms Party, Asim Mollazada, told Ekho yesterday [2 August]. A
    private Azerbaijani company's decision to open the direct flight to
    Northern Cyprus and the businessmen's trip to the island are within the
    international norms, he said. MP Mollazada recalled that the Turkish
    community of the island voted for and the Greek community against
    UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's plan on the unification of Cyprus
    (the Annan plan).

    "Now, it implies that the international community does not keep its
    promise to ease the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community,"
    the parliamentarian stressed. He viewed the trip of the Azerbaijani
    businessmen as a humane step.

    "But this is unfair," the MP exclaimed. He said that Northern Cyprus
    has remained in full isolation and blockade until recently. It is all
    after the Turkish Cypriots voted for the Annan plan, which was backed
    by all the members of the US Security Council and the international
    community, the MP said.

    "Empty words"

    The EU and the USA promised to lift the isolation of the Turkish part
    of the island so that its population can develop and improve their
    conditions, he said. "But the promises turned out to be 'empty words'
    and only Azerbaijan took actual steps to this effect."

    "Here, the talk is not about recognizing Northern Cyprus as an
    independent state," the parliamentarian explained. Mollazada does
    not think that there is any serious violation of international
    laws. The Azerbaijani side acted within the framework of the
    principles of international organizations and the promises of the
    UN secretary-general. All the reproaches against our country now are
    fully unfounded, he noted.

    The international community will not show understanding to the acts of
    Southern Cyprus even if the latter tries to implement their threats,
    he said. Moreover, the EU and the USA will have to deliver on their
    promises to end the isolation of the Turkish part of Cyprus.

    "They promised to do that, if Turkish Cypriots voted for the Annan
    plan in a referendum," Mollazada said.

    "Greek side to blame"

    Renowned political analyst Zardust Alizada says that it is the Greek
    side to blame when they said "no" to the referendum on the Annan plan.

    "They put themselves into an awkward situation, while Turkish Cypriots
    proved their readiness for compromises," the political analyst said.

    But on the other hand, he says that, as a small nation, Azerbaijan
    should never take too many initiatives in issues concerning the
    territorial integrity of unrecognized states.

    "We have enough problems and the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict may be
    used against us any time," Alizada warned.

    Anyhow, there is a special resolution of the EU to ease the air and sea
    blockade of Northern Cyprus. "The Greeks are playing a double-game,
    but forget that the attitude of the international community towards
    Turkish Cypriots is changing for the better," he noted.

    Nevertheless, he said that "if this issue were down to me, I would
    not be so active because Azerbaijan does not need it". Alizada said
    that recognizing the independence of Northern Cyprus is out of the
    question, as this could be a "suicide" for Azerbaijan. Moreover,
    he is convinced that Azerbaijan's activity in this issue will not
    be understood in Europe. As for the complaints of Greek Cypriots to
    European entities against Azerbaijan, they "are not going to change
    anything principally". "The EU will not stop cooperation with our
    country," Alizada said.

    [Passage omitted: the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry could not be
    reached for comments]
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