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The President of Azerbaijan supports Regional Environmental Cooperation

H. Aliyev has declared this during a meeting with Members of European Parliament. One of these days His Excellency the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Heydar Aliyev has received a group of members of European Parliament led by M-me Anne Isler Beguin (France) on an official visit to Baku. The issue of regional environmental cooperation was discussed at the meeting among other topics. The French guest stated that the idea had been put forward at the previous meeting and it was agreed that Azerbaijan would join the Regional Environmental Centre for the Caucasus. Though Mr. Aliyev did not then give an unequivocal answer, he nevertheless displayed keen interest in this initiative. And as M-me Beguin has observed, the greatness of Azerbaijan's President is that just only a few days after this meeting Mr. Aliyev instructed relevant officials to sign the Charter of the REC Caucasus, due to which the Centre already successfully operates in Tbilisi. In addition to this M-me Beguin has expressed her hope that the President of Azerbaijan will support the establishment of a national office of REC Caucasus in Baku. In reply Mr. Aliyev has noted that protection of the environment is question number one for all mankind today and although the President of Azerbaijan is against cooperation with Armenia in all other areas before establishment of peace, he is ready for cooperation in this sphere. Mr. Aliyev has stated: "I shall sign any of your charters. However it is necessary to carry out practical work. There should be an environmental initiative centre. We should by all means create such a centre in Azerbaijan. However it is necessary to coordinate the work of the centre in Tbilisi, the centre in Azerbaijan, and the centres in other places. If the European Union addresses this question in concrete practical terms, it will make a great contribution to the history of mankind".