AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV: WE PROMISE AUTHORITY FOR NAGORNO KARABAKH NOW, WE MAY NOT IN FUTURE

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Dec 21 2006

"I hope that Armenia will eventually accept OSCE Minsk Group’s
proposal, give up protracting negotiations, by finding various
pretexts," Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated while meeting
with local authorities in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

He reaffirmed that Armenian officials’ statements based on the crisis
in their country are that ridiculous and subversive, and Armenia is
seeking for a new pretext to draw out the talks.

"Nagorno Karabakh will never be allowed to be independent. Their
statements on this matter are false," he underlined.

He stated that Azerbaijan can’t be compared with Armenia in economic
development, and Azerbaijan has left Armenia behind.

Saying Azerbaijan’s military budget equals to Armenian total state
spending, Mr. Aliyev stated that Nagorno Karabakh is promised
the status of authority, but this promise can be withdrawn if the
negotiations are deliberately protracted.