We had very useful negotiations with the UN Secretary-General Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali. Now we are meeting you.

I agree with the information given by Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali on our meeting and negotiations. I declare once more that our negotiations were held in the atmosphere of sincerity.

The main theme of our negotiations was to save Azerbaijan from the war and the Armenian aggression. I informed Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali about it, having declared our position once again.

I am very satisfied that Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali stated four main principles on preventing the Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan clearly today. We demand the implementation of the resolutions of the UN Security Council on these four principles. We demand the unconditional withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, returning of over one million our citizens to their homes. Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali paid a great attention and interest to our problems. Our negotiations, exchange of opinions let me say that Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali will do his best for their solution during his visit to Armenia.

I express our respect to the Untied Nations and its Secretary-General on behalf of the Azerbaijani people: I declare once more that the Azerbaijani people, all our citizens cherish great hopes in the UN, its Security Council and its Secretary-General Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali in order to leave this hard situation behind. I thank for your care for Azerbaijan. I hope, as Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali noted, that the UN will use its opportunities and will help Azerbaijan, especially our refugees. Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, I thank you once more.

Question: During the negotiations there was an exchange of views on the aid to Azerbaijan, which suffers hardships. My question is addressed to Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali. Can you help open a representative office of the Azerbaijani State Broadcasting Company in one of the countries of the world?

Boutros Boutros-Ghali: After I return to New York I shall discuss this issue with the Director of the UN Communication Department. I don`t want to promise you anything yet. Because it depends on many factors, mostly budget and financial issues. But I promise to raise the issue in front of the Director of the UN Communication Department. Then I may inform you.

Question: Mr. President, in Azerbaijan you are compared to General de Gaulle. You proved that a great leader and political figure need not to be a dictator. You could remove all political events in the republic with no blood. Do you think that an economic progress is starting with oil contracts?

My second question is addressed to Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali. The decision of the Armenian parliament on incorporation of the Nagorno-Karabakh into Armenia is still in force. The MPs from the so-called Nagorno-Karabakh Republic take part in the Armenian parliament. What else is necessary to call Armenia an aggressor?

Heydar Aliyev: The socio-economic situation of Azerbaijan is too hard. Our public is aware of its reasons. As you also know it well, there is no need for explanation. In the recent years destructive processes were dominating in the economy of Azerbaijan during the absence of constructive processes. The destructive forces are those who attempted to commit coup d`etat in Azerbaijan in the beginning of October. Unfortunately, there are such forces who strain both economic-social and political situation in Azerbaijan, while Azerbaijan is in the state of war. However, they made a big mistake, having not perceived the will and power of the people yet. Preventing the coup d`etat attempt on October 4 demonstrated once again the wisdom, solidarity, strong will of the Azerbaijani people.

At the same time, it demonstrated that the Azerbaijani people are able to defend their statehood, the legally elected president even in hard conditions. If we can prevent the destructive forces, what I am sure that we`ll do, the socio-economic situation in Azerbaijan will gradually improve.

The contract signed with foreign oil companies on September 20 is a great stage in the economic development of Azerbaijan. But we should not think that this contract will solve all the problems of our economy. It is one of the first, but great steps taken in order to develop our economy. I suppose that this step will create a good foundation for our deeds in future.

A good use from the signed contract depends on Azerbaijan. If we work usefully, we can effectively benefit from that. I am sure we shall succeed.

Boutros Boutros-Ghali: As for the question I was asked, I think that the position of the UN Security Council on this issue is obvious enough. It implies urgent and unconditional withdrawal of the occupants from the Nagorno-Karabakh.

Question: My question is addressed to Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali. Mr. Secretary-General, in your statement in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as during your speech today, you noted that the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan must be restored, and the foreign troops must withdraw from the occupied territories. You also called Armenia an aggressor. You are going to visit Armenia. Will you express the same position there?

Boutros Boutros-Ghali: I suppose that what I say here is broadcasted to Armenia an hour later. My statements and opinions I express here is spread worldwide by Reuters and other agencies, also spread in New York by my press secretary as specially published bulletins. It means that what I speak here is spread all over the world. Secondly, I don`t say anything new here. My statements are reflected on the resolutions 822, 853, 874 and 884 adopted by the Security Council.

Question: Mr. Secretary-General, you counted the resolutions. My question is related to the resolution 822. Its Article 4 demands sending your representatives to Kalbajar in order to determine if it was occupied by the ethnic Armenians of the Nagorno-Karabakh or the Armenian Republic. However, the time passed, no representative was sent, being unpunished the aggressors kept occupying new territories of Azerbaijan causing tragedies for hundreds of thousands of people. In your statements today you told that you support CSCE and are ready to coordinate the UN peacekeeping forces. What concrete steps does the UN take in order to implement the above mentioned resolutions?

Boutros Boutros-Ghali: As for the Article 4 of the mentioned document, keeping in touch with the Chairman of CSCE, the UN Secretary-General was to send his envoy to Kalbajar in order to evaluate the situation there correctly. Later the Security Council adopted some other resolutions as well. During their adoption the information on the situation in the region was delivered to the Security Council.

Question: You mentioned that all the resolutions demand the unconditional withdrawal of the occupants from the Azerbaijani territories. However, it has not been implemented yet. In this case, the UN has tools of economical and military pressure on the country ignoring the resolutions of the Security Council. You applied them in Iraq and the former Yugoslavia. Why does the UN not do anything for the implementation of the resolutions of the Security Council in this case?

Boutros Boutros-Ghali: As you are aware, decisions are made by the Security Council. The role and duty of the Secretary-General is their realization. The Security Council is a political organization. It may be interested in their realization or insist on their economically and/or militarily implementation.

Question: If Armenia continues ignoring the resolutions of the Security Council, will any sanctions against it be applied, as they were done in the case of Iraq and the former Yugoslavia?

Boutros Boutros-Ghali: As I said, the Security Council must make such a decision. Thus, I can not reply your question.

Question: After his official visit to the United States, the Russian President Boris Yeltsin declared that they had agreed on the Russian military forces to be sent to the region under the UN aegis. However, you speak about the international peacemaking forces of CSCE and your readiness to support CSCE in formation of those forces. Do the positions of Russian and the UN seem controversial then? If Russia protests sending international forces to the region, how will you solve the issue?

Boutros Boutros-Ghali: This issue has three variants of solution. First, placement of UN forces in the region. In this case, those forces would be controlled directly by the UN-appointed commandant. Second, placement of CIS troops in the region. The third one is the variant practiced in Georgia, joint efforts of CIS troops and UN observers. This issue may be approached from different points of view. But I declare once more that all these issues are included in the capacity of the UN Security Council; no decision on it has been made yet.

Question: Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, what do you think of the position of the Russian Federation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict?

Boutros Boutros-Ghali: The Russian Federation supported and voted for the resolutions adopted by the Security Council. It is a UN level. As for the CSCE level, there is a good cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Minsk Group. Moreover, the Russian Federation has had some initiatives for the peaceful solution of this conflict. We welcome the initiatives by the Russian Federation both within the framework of the UN, CSCE and bilateral relations, for creating peace and stability in the region, and removing all which threatens them.

"Azerbaycan" newspaper, October 31, 1994