PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN THINKS CONTINUATION OF PRAGUE PROCESS A VERY
POSITIVE FACTOR

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 17. ARMINFO. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
thinks the continuation of the Prague Process a very positive factor.

Speaking at a sitting on army construction at the Azerbaijani Defense
Ministry, the president called a positive fact the visits of OSCE
Minsk Group to the region, negotiations as well as new approaches. At
the same time he expressed hope for continuation of the Prague
Process. “As I have repeatedly stated, Prague Process means a
stage-by-stage settlement. That is, the international community and
OSCE, as well as the Minsk Group present their position on the issue,”
the president said.

However, the problem remains unresolved. So, it is natural that
Azerbaijan raises its budget, which will exceed 3 bln 500 mln USD next
year, the president said. He added that the military budget of
Azerbaijan will reach 600 mln USD in 2006. He promised to reach the
military budget of Azerbaijan to the state budget of Armenia.

As regards the concern over the increase of military expenses in
Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, in his turn, expressed concern about the
replenishment of the Russian military base in Gyumri with the armament
withdrawn from Georgia and the joint Armenian-Russian exercises. He
explained the main reason of the increase in the military budget of
Azerbaijan with “the fact that in 1990 Russia illegally transported 1
bln USD armament to Armenia.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress