NO ALTERNATIVE EXISTS FOR PEACE TALKS ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT AT PRESENT: AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
May 17 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend A.Ismayilova / The Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev stated at a meeting with residents of the
Mehdiabad village of Baku on 17 May that at present there is no
alternative to talks on resolving the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict
over Nagorno-Karabakh.

In this respect Azerbaijan continues its talks on a peaceful level.

"An alternative to talks is war and Azerbaijan should be prepared
for this," the head of state stressed.

President Aliyev said that Azerbaijan’s economic potential is becoming
consolidated, and the country receives a large capital which will be
spent on the political consolidation and strengthening of its military
regime. Azerbaijan will never accept a resolution which contradicts
its national interests," the President emphasized.

He also noted that earlier Azerbaijan was on the same level with
Armenia regarding its economy growth rate, and now Azerbaijan has
significantly superseded this level. Aliyev said that Armenia has
no economic prospects and the key source of its income is foreign
assistance which will be terminated eventually. The head of the state
said that Azerbaijan is self-reliant.

President Aliyev concluded that he counts on the support of the nation
while defining the country’s foreign policy.