ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER DOWNPLAYS AZERI WAR RHETORIC

Armenpress
Nov 16 2006

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS: Armenian defense minister Serzh
Sarkisian downplayed today Azerbaijan’s war rhetoric saying he was
sure that military actions would not resume in the nearest future.

During a meeting with parents of servicemen in the northwestern
town of Gyumri the minister said Azeris realized well now they could
not launch a successful offensive. "We too know it very well," the
minister said, attributing belligerent statements of officials in Baku
to their attempts to justify a drastic increase in military spending
for 2007 which Azeri president said would amount to $1 billion, a sharp
contrast to $280 million earmarked by Armenia’s 2007 draft budget.

The Armenian defense minister said the one who would begin the
war now would sustain heavy losses and damages because both sides
have significantly reinforced their positions on the front line to
protect their troops. Serzh Sarkisian said Azerbaijan would not go
into offensive also because of fearing strong international pressure.

"No one can gain from breaking ‘the neither peace nor war status’
as long as the talks over the ways to settle the Karabakh conflict
go on," he said.