Armenian official bewares possible military action

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
May 5 2006

Baku, May 4, AssA-Irada — Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian
has called on Azerbaijan to refrain from military action to settle
the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict.

Addressing a conference held in Lithuania on Thursday as part of
the summit of Baltic and Black Sea member states, Oskanian stated
that Azerbaijan has strengthened its military power owing to its oil
revenues and is seeking to solve the long-standing dispute through
military action. He also called on the European Union to put pressure
on Azerbaijan in this respect.

Azerbaijani Prime Minister Artur Rasizada speaking at the summit
criticized Armenia for its policy of aggression. He reaffirmed his
country’s stance, saying Azerbaijan backs a negotiated settlement
based on the principle of its territorial integrity.*