Baku not to allow Armenia to legalize Karabakh’s annexation – Azeri official

ANS TV, Baku
26 Mar 04

[Presenter] Armenia will launch new attacks against Azerbaijan, MP
Anar Mammadxanli has given journalists this sensational information.

[Correspondent over video of the Armenian parliament] Attention – the
Armenian parliament is preparing to adopt a decision to annex Karabakh
and other occupied territories to Armenia. The decision is expected in
June. Azerbaijan must prepare for war, MP Anar Mammadxanli made this
sensational statement.

[Anar Mammadxanli speaking to microphone] They want to draw Azerbaijan
into a war. Because there is deadlock, i.e. the peace talks are
fruitless. This actually means a war. Armenia actually started the war
against Azerbaijan in 1988 and we were not ready for that. I think
that Azerbaijan should be ready today.

[Correspondent] Mammadxanli said that he had informed relevant bodies
about this.

[Mammadxanli] Naturally, international organizations, the OSCE Minsk
Group, superpowers and the European Union should warn Armenia against
this. They should warn Armenia against taking such a step. Because
this will completely change the situation.

[Correspondent] The MP thinks that [Armenian President] Robert
Kocharyan had to take such fascist-style steps to restore his lost
reputation and maintain his power in Armenia. However, official Baku
will do everything possible to prevent Armenia from taking such a
decision and to liberate its lands in a military way. Azerbaijan will
not give the enemy a single inch of its land.

[Passage omitted: Reported details]

[Correspondent] The head of the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry press
service, Ramiz Malikov, said that the Azerbaijani army is ready for
war. Azerbaijan will get the opportunity to return everything it has
lost if Armenia launches military operations. Malikov said Armenia
will lose if it fights a war. According to him, no state will support
Armenia since the international community has already recognized it as
an aggressor.

The head of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry press service, Matin
Mirza, said that official Baku will not allow the Armenian parliament
to legalize the annexation of Nagornyy Karabakh to Armenia. Our
country’s embassies abroad will be instructed in this regard and they
will call on the world community to take a step against Armenia.