AZERBAIJAN MAY LIBERATE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES MILITARILY
Translated by Pavel Pushkin

Source: Turan news agency (Baku), May 04, 2007
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
May 7, 2007 Monday

Azerbaijan may liberate occupied territories militarily if Armenians
do not wish to quit them voluntarily. The president of Azerbaijan
said this speaking today to refugees in the Ramany settlement.

Aliev stated: "Lately, Azerbaijan bought a large quantity of heavy
armament and military hardware. The military balance is in our
favor now but the process of purchase continues. Our military budget
equals the state budget of Armenia and military expenditures will be
increased further."

Aliev threatened: "Our army can liberate the occupied lands by force
and if Armenians do not wish to see our army, let us vacate the
lands voluntarily."

Negotiations on a peaceful resolving of the conflict have been going on
for more than ten years. Aliev said that Azerbaijan would not conduct
them forever: "How long is it possible to wait and to tolerate the
occupation of our own territory? We can liberate these lands." He
adds that the international community recognizes the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan and recognizes that it is right.

Aliev called a confirmation of the fact that Armenia occupied
Nagorno-Karabakh and seven districts around it a big "diplomatic
victory." According to Aliev, the entire international community
recognizes the right of Azerbaijan to these lands.