Regnum, Russia
Oct 27 2006

Armenian defense minister: Azerbaijan cannot solve the Karabakh
problem by war

In case of a new war in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, Armenia
will again have an advantage over Azerbaijan. However, the war will
be a big blow for both sides, Armenian Defense Minister Serzh
Sargsyan says in an interview to Jane’s military and political
research center.

Radio Liberty reports Sargsyan to say, referring to independent
experts, that Azerbaijan is not yet able to solve the
Nagorno-Karabakh problem by war. He notes that in the early 90s
Azerbaijan also had a numerical and technical military superiority it
had got from the Soviet Union. `But despite all of its forecast oil
revenues – neither today nor in many years ahead – will Azerbaijan be
able to gain the preponderance it had 14-15 years ago. The Azeri
military scenario failed then and will fail again,’ says Sargsyan. He
notes that he is an advocate of peaceful resolution but `Azerbaijan’s
militarist policy does not contribute to it.’

Concerning Armenia-NATO relations, Sargsyan says that for quite a
long time Turkey’s policy has been undermining NATO’s authority in
Armenia. The Russian military base in Armenia was formed in the face
of an external threat to become a force restraining it.
Unfortunately, this threat is still existent as there is still no
substantial progress in Armenia’s relations with Turkey. `Turkey
continues the blockade of Armenia, which is, in fact, a hostile
action. Turkey supports Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh process
and our rapprochement depends on Azerbaijan’s whims,’ says Sargsyan.