SARGSYAN DOUBTS SERIOUS PREPARATION FOR PEACEKEEPING OPERATION IN KARABAKH
PanARMENIAN.Net
20.04.2006 01:02 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “To tell the truth I doubt that serious preparation
for peacekeeping operation in Karabakh is carried out somewhere. The
consent of the parties is needed for it,” Armenian Foreign Minister
Serge Sargsyan stated in an interview with “Krasnaya Zvezda”
Russian newspaper when commenting on the reports of the Russian
media that a peacekeeping operation for Nagorno Karabakh of being
elaborated in Brussels under the aegis of the OSCE. In his words,
this will become possible when the conflicting parties come to an
agreement. “Unfortunately there is no agreement between Armenia and
Azerbaijan at present.
Consequently it’s premature to speak of peacekeepers yet,” he said.
When commenting on the current situation with Nagorno Karabakh the
Armenian Defense Minister said, “I should note that the Karabakh issue
is being constantly raised in Azerbaijan and some forces try to solve
internal political problems by gambling on it. You are aware that the
Azeri President and Defense Minister reiterate that if we do not agree
on their conditions Baku will have to settle the problem by force.
Moreover, Azerbaijan has doubled its military budget and the Azeri
President promised to bring it to $1 billion. But it resembles
blackmail.”
“We are not afraid of war but we do not want it. In 1994 the ceasefire
agreement was achieved with Russia’s mediation. Today our troops
occupy firm defense positions. Billions of dollars will not help.
If the military budget could determine the efficiency of the army all
oil-powers would possess the most efficient armies. But it’s not so,”
Serge Sargsyan resumed.