FREIZER: “AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA CHOSE TIME GAINING STRATEGY IN SETTLING OF NK CONFLICT”

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 29 2006

The International Crisis Group (ICG) Caucasus Project Director Sabine
Freizer held a presentation of the Nagorno Garabagh conflict within
traditional conference of the US Columbia University.

The ICG office in Tbilisi told APA that the presentation was made
on the reports on the conflict that the ICG made last year. In her
speech, Sabine Freizer said the Nagorno Garabagh conflict is not a
frozen conflict.

“There are still people being killed regularly,” she underlined.

According to Ms. Freizer, both Azerbaijani and Armenian sides consider
that their stances are strengthening as long as the peaceful way of
solution of the conflict is delayed.

Stressing that as many as 19 people have been killed in cease-fire
violations over the past month and 90 people were killed in 2005,
Freizer said outbreak of the war might lead to great harms.

“There are 30 thousand Azerbaijani and 20 thousand Armenian military
men in the front line,” she said.

The ICG representative also reported that the Armenians of Nagorno
Garabagh hope to gaining independence gradually and Azerbaijanis
think that oil and gas revenues will strengthen the Army and provide
an opportunity to resume military operations.

“Both parties have chosen the strategy of gaining time,” Freizer said.

She also added that renewed fighting in Nagorno Garabagh potentially
could involve Russia, Iran, Georgia and Turkey.