AZERBAIJAN WON’T EVER GRANT INDEPENDENCE TO KARABAKH – ALIYEV

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
April 13 2007

BAKU, April 13 (Itar-Tass) — Azerbaijan will never grant independence
to Karabakh, President Ilham Aliyev told the national government
on Friday.

"Karabakh will never join Armenia either," he added.

The Armenian people already have their state – Armenia, Aliyev said.

"If anyone in Karabakh wants self-determination, they can move to
Armenia," he said.

Aliyev disagreed with claims of the alleged plans to keep off Armenia
from regional projects. Armenia has isolated itself with claims to
neighbors and became "an economic and transport dead-end," he said.

"If the Armenian administration offers a constructive attitude,
the Karabakh problem can be resolved," Aliyev said.

He reaffirmed his "clear and invariable position: the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan must be restored; the occupied lands must be
freed unconditionally; and refugees must return home."