January 23, 2008 - 15:23 AMT
Azerbaijan worthless without oil and gas?
"No one would take account of our opinion if it were not for our oil and gas," Azeri political scientist Rasim Musabekov said during round table discussion on Caucasus energy security.

He reminded about the situation in Tajikistan when 200 thousand people died during a civil war. "The international community neglected this fact, since the republic had no energy value. The situation with us differs. The OSCE Minsk Group is represented by three world powers - Russia, the United States and the European Union. They are all interested in our energy sources. That is why energy is an important factor is Azerbaijan's policy," Musabekov said.

"Europe sees resolution of problems in economic cooperation between Armenia and Azerbaijan. But there is no need to obey Europeans in all issues. We should continue the policy of economic pressure against Armenia. It's obvious that the rise in prices for oil did not lead to world crisis or calamity. Even poor states like Georgia and Armenia find finances to buy energy carriers," he said, Novosti Azerbaijan reports.