GUKASYAN: "THE RE-START OF HOSTILITIES IN NAGORNO KARABAKH IS NOT RULED OUT"

Today, Azerbaijan
Aug. 31, 2006

"I do not rule out the re-start of hostilities in Nagorno Garabagh.

But I think Azerbaijan will not take this step which might lead to
its annihilation," said Arkadi Gukasyan, head of the separatist regime
functioning in the occupied Azerbaijani territories.

The separatist leader said Karabakh people have got used to Baku
threats, APA reports.

"They want to threaten us by the increases in their defense expenditure
by the account of oil revenues. However, this policy will not turn
out efficient," Gukasyan said.

The separatist leader stressed that if Azerbaijan starts war, the
consequences will be sad for it. However, he does not think military
way is the real solution of the problem.

"Power states do not want unstable situation in the region because
of the oil projects on which they spent great amount of funds. The
Azerbaijani people do not want war either. I think it is abnormal to
think of a new war. The experience showed that the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict cannot be solved by military way," he underlined.

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