ARMENIA CONCERNED OVER AZERBAIJAN’S INCREASING MILITARY POWER
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Oct 13 2005
Baku, October 12, AssA-Irada
Azerbaijan’s recent warnings of war and its decisiveness to continue
building military power ‘serve the election campaigns’ and the
country’s stance on the Upper Garabagh problem will be clear in two
months, Armenian minister for defense has claimed.
“Azerbaijan’s ruling New Azerbaijan Party is likely to win in the
upcoming parliamentary elections”, Serzh Sarkisian told a news
conference on Tuesday.
Asked whether the ruling party’s victory is possible through
falsifications, Sarkisian said ‘it is impossible to win elections by
falsifying them, but if it happens, international organizations will
express their attitude on this’.
Commenting on possible tensions in Upper Garabagh during the November
polls, the Armenian official said the situation is ‘quite tranquil
and tensions are not likely to mount in the conflict zone’.
Deputy foreign minister Araz Azimov has dismissed the statement, saying
that strengthening military power is an internal affair of Azerbaijan
and that Armenian officials are not entitled to making any statements
expressing objection over this. “The development of Azerbaijan is based
on its national resources and capabilities. The steps being taken by
the government, which is working to develop the country, at improving
the armed forces, are natural. The country has ensured its security.”
Azimov noted that all the processes ongoing in Azerbaijan ‘should be
viewed within its sovereignty’.
The deputy foreign minister added that the mentioned statements by
Armenian officials will not affect the negotiating process on the
conflict settlement.*