BAKU COMMITTED TO PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO KARABAKH CONFLICT

Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS Military Newswire
April 11, 2006 Tuesday 2:15 PM MSK

Azerbaijan wants a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
as soon as possible, but warns that its patience is wearing thin, Ali
Gasanov, head of the Azeri presidential administration’s department
for public and political issues, told journalists on Tuesday.

“We have no territorial claims. We only want to get our lands back.

We have the right to it,” he said.

Commenting on a recent statement by a U.S. Department of State official
that a new war in the Nagorno-Karabakh region would make it difficult
for Azerbaijan to earn money implementing regional energy projects,
Gasanov said that other countries involved in such major energy and
transport projects do not want the Karabakh conflict to be resolved
through the use of force.

“We do not want that, either. But what are we supposed to do? We
have our own rights and we cannot allow the occupation of our lands
to continue. Our patience is not endless,” he said.

All the parties involved realize the negative consequences of a new
war in the region and are doing everything they can to find a peaceful
solution to the conflict, Gasanov said. The OSCE Minsk Group has also
stepped up its activities, he said.

“Armenia understands that it will have to liberate Azerbaijan’s lands
sooner or later,” he said.