BUSH-ALIEV NEGOTIATIONS WILL FOCUS ON THE KARABAKH ISSUE

ArmRadio.am
27.04.2006 11:19

“If the US aspires to defend its interests in the sphere of energy and
security, then the major topic in the agenda of April 28th negotiations
between George Bush and Ilham Aliev should become the unresolved
Karabakh conflict,” International Crisis Group Representative for
South Caucasus Sabina Fraizer told APA Agency.

“For Washington Baku-Tbilisi-Jeyhan oil pipeline, as well as
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum gas pipeline, the construction of which will start
soon, are important project of energy security of the West, and they
pass only 30 miles away from the contact line,” she noted. Fraizer
added that during the recent months Aliev strengthened the military
rhetoric, threatening to leave the peaceful negotiations process
and to return the territories under Armenian control in the military
way. President Aliev promised also to equal the military budget of
Azerbaijan to the whole budget of Armenia at the expense of revenues
from sale of oil. Fraizer noted also that Ilham Aliev must be properly
explained in Washington that the military settlement of eth Karabakh
conflict is unacceptable. Us authorities should force Azerbaijan
accept the principles of multilateral peace. These will secure the
safe and voluntary return of displaced persons, will lift the blockade
of all transport and trade ways and will guarantee the execution of
the right of self-determination of Nagorno-Karabakh people.”