KARABAKH WAR GAMES DEADLY BLOW TO CONFLICT SETTLEMENT – AZERI ARMY OFFICIAL

Zerkalo, Baku
14 Aug 04

As is known, military exercises were held by the separatist regime on
the occupied territory of Nagornyy Karabakh a couple of days ago and
Armenian Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan watched the course of the
exercises. We contacted the head of the Defence Ministry’s press
service, Col Ramiz Malikov, for comments.

(Passage omitted: background details)

(Ramiz Malikov) By holding the military “exercises” on the occupied
territory, the Armenian political and military leadership demonstrated
their aggressive stance towards Azerbaijan. These exercises showed
once again the true face of the Armenian separatists.

The Armenian military leadership wanted to demonstrate the existence
and might of the “Karabakh army” to the world. However, who will
believe in their fairy tales? The entire world knows that the Armenian
occupying troops took part in these exercises.

The participation of Armenia’s senior generals clearly showed who
planned this make-believe under the guise of exercises. (Armenian
Defence Minister Serzh) Sarkisyan wanted to demonstrate his muscles to
Azerbaijan. However, it is useless. Azerbaijan is well aware of their
military force.

I think that the exercises held on the occupied territory were a
deadly blow to the peaceful settlement of the conflict. It is the
Armenian side which is fully responsible for this.

(Correspondent) “One of the principles applied to the large-scale
military exercises conducted by the Karabakh defence army was to bring
these exercises as close to military operations as possible,” the NKR
(Nagornyy Karabakh Republic) defence minister, Seyran Oganyan,
said. “I think that the future military operations, if they happen to
take place, will be different from those of 1992-94. The present
exercises were like military operations that could be expected in the
future.” What can you say about this?

(Malikov) Azerbaijan has not heard of and does not know anything about
“the Karabakh army”. It is a gang that is functioning on the occupied
territory of Azerbaijan. This gang includes thugs, drug addicts,
terrorists and separatists. Therefore, I do not want to comment on
statements issued by the ringleader of a bandit formation.

However, I can say that the Azerbaijani army is much stronger than the
Armenian. The strength of our army is based on the logistics and
economy of our state, which makes the army develop continuously.
Armenia, however, is independent only in words. The troops of another
state are guarding its borders today. In fact, Armenia’s entire
industry is in the hands of another country. Armenia is not a
sovereign state, it is a vassal of another country.

(Passage omitted: minor details)