BAKU: President of Azerbaijan: Azerbaijan’s patience is not infinite

TREND, Azerbaijan
June 23 2006

President of Azerbaijan: Azerbaijan’s patience is not infinite

Source: Trend
Author: S.Aliyev

23.06.2006

"Out problem number one is the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between
Armenian and Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, there is no advancement in
this sphere at all. Talks are on and on without any result as they
make no sense", reportedly said today President of Azerbaijan Ilham
Aliyev, speaking at graduation ceremony in Highest Military School
n.a. Heydar Aliyev.

"Azerbaijan’s position always was very constructive. We have been
committed to conversation process for more than 10 years, which
evidences our right position",- said head of state. Against all the
odds, he continued, Azerbaijan tries to use capabilities of talks
in full. "However, Armenia’s position doesn’t allow us solve this
problem",- president said.

Ilham Aliyev reminded that the UN approved four resolutions on
Nagorno-Karabakh that state the unconditional release of Azeri
grounds. Besides, other international organizations, like the CE,
Organization of Islamic Conference, ECO, GUAM, have made their
decisions. However, head of state said, Armenia does not comply with
these decisions.

"Now we don’t hope for international regulation mechanisms. We cannot
get along with this situation. We will never get along with loss of
our grounds. We will never let Nagorno-Karabakh apart from Azerbaijan
and this is not the matter of talks. The matter of talks may only be
the restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and security of
all the nations in the region. There is no agreement possible beyond
these frames", President claimed.

"We highly appraise the efforts and decisions of international
organizations in settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We highly
appraise the work of the Minsk Group. Thy really do their best to
settle the problem but Armenia’s position fails them. In such an event,
Azerbaijan shall revise its policy", Aliyev added.

"How long we will take part in talks? How long shall we wait? Our
patience is not infinite. Azerbaijan is a fat-developing country
today. Armenia can compete us neither in economic nor in political
or military respect. Let people in Armenia think where Azerbaijan
and Armenia will be in one, three, five years. Armenia doesn’t have
any chance to grow up. They are restrained from all international and
regional projects. Economic growth in Armenia is limited. Some half
of its population has left the country. We know they lack people even
to guard the frontline",- President said.

"Azerbaijan today faces no problems but Karabakh. Therefore, all
necessary funds shall be allotted to form the army", Aliyev said.
Azerbaijan lives in the state of emergency and army formation shall
be the matter of great importance. Even today, army is paid big
attention to. "We work in all directions on strengthening the army.
It is necessary to allot funds from the state budget to raise the
army and we do this. Last three years our military expenses rose in
4 times. They amounted $135mln in 2003, while in 2006 this amount
equals $700mln. And our plans include raising this amount",- Ilham
Aliyev said.

President of Azerbaijan underlined that the country’s budget grows
each year alongside the army financing.