Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 25 2007

General Lieutenant Yashar Damirbulak: Azerbaijan has to decide on
starting military operations for Karabakh

[ 25 May 2007 19:25 ]

Not Army, but political authorities should decide when to start
military operations in the north of Iraq. Political authorities
cannot possibly make such decision at the claim of Turkish Armed
Forces Staff, former chief of Turkish Air Forces Intelligence Office,
General Lieutenant Yashar Damirbulak told the APA.

He also reminded that the US was against Turkish Army’s carrying out
operations in northern Iraq.
`The US is controlling all these processes, this country does favor
Turkey’s operations in northern Iraq. The US’s condition is bad in
other regions of Iraq. America’s role is great in the reviving of PKK
terrorist organization. Washington promised Kurds to help establish a
state in northern Iraq. Kurds are key ally of the US in the region.
Therefore, the US does not want PKK terrorist organization to be
stricked,’ Turkish General said.
Yashar Damirbulak refuted the report which says Prime Minister
Erdogan’s demand to start military operations in northern Iraq was
initiated by the Army.
`Prime Minister delivers messages to the Army to introduce concrete
plans and take all necessary measures. Can you imagine such
government? Army has already commented on these claims. Whatever
happens, Erdogan says the Army is related to him. Why organizations
obeying to you should demand anything of you? These issues were
debated for several times in the National Security Council. It seems,
we will continue to loose our soldiers.
The Government’s current messages are investments regarding
elections. Such problems can not be solved with media. If Erdogan’s
intention is serious, extraordinary meeting of National Security
Council should be held and the issue should be debated there. Prime
Minister Erdogan’s opinions are nonsense. Armed Forces Staff can not
require anything from the government. We know where C-4 bombs have
been brought to northern Iraq,’ he said.
Damirbulak saying that he actively participated in the building of
Azerbaijani Army for a long time stated that there is not peaceful
solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict between Armenia and
Azerbaijan.
If Azerbaijan intends to solve the problem through the mediation of
international organizations, it should think over it. Azerbaijan lost
those regions as a result of treachery inside. Therefore, Azerbaijan
can only liberate Armenian-occupied regions by its own force. OSCE,
UN or any foreign organization can do nothing for it. Everybody
should remember that one million refugees and internally displaced
persons are living in Azerbaijan. If Azerbaijan makes a decision on
starting military operations for liberating its regions, it can
liberate them,’ he said.
General Lieutenant Yashar Damirbulak is of Azerbaijani descent. His
ancestors had to escape to Kars, Turkey because of Armenian torture.
Damirbulak took an active part in Army building in Azerbaijan in the
early stage and was Abulfaz Elchibay’s military counsellor during his
presidency. /APA/