OSKANIAN: ARMENIANS OF KARABAKH PROVED THEY CAN DEFEND THEIR INDEPENDENCE
Pan Armenian News
19.09.2005 04:27
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers Vatran
Oskanian and Elmar Mammadyarov addressed the 60-the Session of the
UN General Assembly. Starting his speech Vartan Oskanian stated that
Armenia being ahead of its neighbors occupies the 83-th position
in the Human Development Index. “We achieved this result despite
our unfavorable geopolitical position,” the RA FM said adding that
Armenia has no sea borders and oil.
“But if we had oil income we would spend it on education, social
welfare and environment protection but never on doubling the military
budget”, he stated. When touching upon the Karabakh conflict the RA FM
noted, “The Armenians of Karabakh achieved independence de-facto. They
proved that they can defend their independence, form democratic
institutes and hold elections.” In his turn the Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister presented Baku’s position on the issue. “First, Armenians
should withdraw forces form the seized territories to escape the stain
of aggressor and create an atmosphere of trust”, Elmar Mammadyarov
said. In his words, “refugees should return to their houses and local
police should be formed in Karabakh to provide security for Armenians
and Azeris. The Karabakh Armenians should be given the possibility to
communicate with Armenia while Nakhichevan should have communication
with Azerbaijan.” “Thus the Lachin corridor should become the path
of peace used in both directions and controlled by international
peacekeepers at the initial stage,” he stated, reported RFE/RL.