Russia & CIS Presidential Bulletin
November 30, 2007

PM CALLS ON AZERBAIJAN NOT TO USE MILITARY METHODS TO RESOLVE …

There is no military solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian said at a meeting with
foreign journalists.

Sarkisian was commenting on a statement by Azeri Defense Minister
Safar Abiyev who said the likelihood of a new war is almost 100%.

Armenian armed forces are always ready to protect the country’s
borders, and Azerbaijan must bear in mind that if it chooses a
military method of resolving the issue, it will face problems that
will be more complicated than the ones it faces now, Sarkisian was
quoted as saying by the Armenian government public relations
department.

For his part, Armenian Foreign Ministry Vardan Oskanian, who is
attending a meeting of OSCE (Organization for Security and Council in
Europe) foreign ministers, said in Madrid on Friday that Armenia is
concerned by Azerbaijan increasing its military potential.

We are very concerned by the relations with Azerbaijan and we are
alarmed by Azerbaijan building up its arms, Oskanian said.

Azerbaijan thus significantly exceeds its limit under the
Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty, Oskanian said.

At the same time, the Armenian minister pointed to the progress that
was made in the Karabakh settlement process. We met with the OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairmen [on Thursday] and we are happy to note there
has been some progress, Oskanian said.

The parties are preparing a document which might become a basis for a
preliminary document, he said.

This document is about the central issue: the right of people in
Nagorno Karabakh to self-determination and the return of refugees,
the Armenian foreign minister said.

But there are some hurdles in the negotiating process. First of all,
Azerbaijan is voicing its ideas about a military solution at the
highest level. Secondly, Azerbaijan is promoting hatred towards
Armenians, Oskanian said.

Azerbaijan is actively searching for alternative international forums
in order to initiate hearings of the Karabakh problem, the Armenian
foreign minister said.

Its [Azerbaijan’s] approach is unacceptable. There is no military
solution, the only solution is a compromise. We know there will be no
military solution, because we will not start a war, and they [Azeris]
know they will not be able to win, the Armenian minister said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress