FM OSKANYAN: AZERBAIJAN WON’T INTIMIDATE ARMENIA WITH ITS MILITARY MIGHT
Source: TURAN news agency (Baku), March 11, 2006
Translated by A. Ignatkin

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
March 15, 2006 Wednesday

Shant TV-channel (Yerevan) quoted Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanjan as saying that Azerbaijan is not going to risk a war with
Armenia. Azerbaijan will not intimidate Armenia with its military
might, and neither is it ready for a war, Oskanjan said.

As far as Oskanjan is concerned, Azerbaijan’s losses in another war
will be even greater than in the former conflict. Moreover, Baku
will not go against the international community that objects to the
use of military strength. Neither will the West permit Azerbaijan
to endanger the billions worth of investments in this country,
Oskanjan said. Speaking of the deterioration of the situation on the
Azerbaijani-Armenian front, the minister expressed the hope that it
did not have anything to do with political processes. The call from
chairmen to prepare the peoples of Armenia and Azerbaijan for peace
is addressed to Baku, Oskanjan said.

Armenian diplomat is convinced that President Ilham Aliyev’s
belligerent rhetoric creates an atmosphere that does not facilitate
conflict settlement. Unless the situation ameliorated, Armenia will
change its tactic and put Azerbaijan on the defensive. “We cannot
wait for Azerbaijan to boost its military might and attack Armenia,”
Oskanjan said. “We may take certain measures in the matter of our
own defense that Azerbaijan is certain not to find to its liking.”

Commenting on the outcome of the meeting in France, Oskanjan said
that Armenia does not consider the process a failure. The issue on
the agenda was fairly difficult and there can be no progress without
readiness for compromises on the part of Azerbaijan, Oskanjan said.

The minister added as well that Azerbaijan should forget about the
principle of territorial integrity. As far as Oskanjan is concerned,
the negotiations are centered around Nagorno-Karabakh’s right for
self-determination and Baku should reconcile itself to it.

Oskanjan is convinced that Armenia has done its part by way of
compromises and concessions. The diplomat did not elaborate. “What we
have already agreed with is the final line Armenia will never retreat
beyond,” Oskanjan said.