President does not rule out war possibility

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 23 2005

Baku, March 22, AssA-Irada — President Ilham Aliyev says that
a possibility exists for the launch of war between Azerbaijan and
Armenia.

“The start of war is possible any time, as we have no peace agreement”,
Aliyev told journalists. The frequent ceasefire violations do not
meet Azerbaijan’s interests, he said.

Aliyev said that if the international community does not take steps
against Armenia to settle the Upper Garabagh conflict, Azerbaijan will
have to do so on its own, as there would be no other alternative. He
also stressed the importance of strengthening the country’s army and
economy for influencing Armenia.*