Azerbaijani Agriculture Minister Was Born in Yerevan and Still Speaks Armenian

Azerbaijan's Agriculture Minister Ismad Abasov, who is currently in Yerevan in the framework of 27th European and regional conference of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, said he would talk to Armenian journalists only if he stands near the Azerbaijani flag.

Asked about the possible cooperation between Armenian and Azerbaijan Abasov said: "It is still early to speak about it because, as you know, there is a conflict between our countries which cannot be solved already for several years. I will be frank with you. I think there will be no cooperation, unless this conflict is resolved."

Further Abasov recollected the former Soviet times when Azerbaijan was systematically exporting fruit and vegetables to Armenia.

"If everything unfolds successfully, if the lands are freed, if the relations become as they used to be [in the past] I think that it will be possible to cooperate in all these spheres," said he.

Interestingly, Ismad Abasov mentioned that he was born in Yerevan and attended the School number 9, next to the former Hanrapetakan (Republican) Stadium.

"I managed visiting the house I was born, it is situated on Alaverdyan Street. It was an emotional moment," added Abasov who surprised the Armenian journalists saying, in Armenian, that he speaks Armenian and has not forgotten it yet.

"It is 23 years since I have not been in Yerevan, sometimes I am having difficulty in speaking Armenian," said Abasov.