COUNTERTERRORISM OPERATIONS IN KARABAKH ARE POSSIBLE
by B. Safarov

Ekho
Feb 13 2008
Azerbaijan

The Interior Ministry of Azerbaijan should be in charge of conducting
a counterterrorism operation in Nagornyy Karabakh, Col (retd) Ildirim
Mammadov, a military expert and former brigade commander, told Ekho
in an interview. He was commenting on the remarks of the head of
the Azerbaijani community of Nagornyy Karabakh, Nizami Bahmanov,
about possible counterterrorism operations by Azerbaijan in Nagornyy
Karabakh.

Bahmanov said this at a news conference on 12 February. The Azerbaijani
authorities have repeatedly stated that the occupied territories
of Azerbaijan are uncontrolled and used for the transit of drugs,
Bahmanov said, according to 1news.az website. What is more, there
are reports that international terrorist organizations have their
bases in Nagornyy Karabakh. Bahmanov said that efforts are under
way to verify the reports about the preparation on the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan, including in Nagornyy Karabakh, of some
terrorist attacks carried out in other countries. Other reports being
verified concern deployment of Kurdish separatists in this area.

"If there is proof, Azerbaijan will carry out a counterterrorism
operation in Nagornyy Karabakh," Bahmanov said. The Defence Ministry
of Azerbaijan has not commented on the issue.

Mammadov said that such operations are organized by special purpose
troops. "A counterterrorism operation does not target civilians. It
is carried out without using heavy weaponry. There are thousands of
options for conducting such operations. The armed forces will have
a support role," he said.

Speaking about the means of carrying out a counterterrorism operation,
Mammadov said that all kinds of weapons designated for such operations
should be used. "The specifics are well known. It has been used widely
by the special subunits of the USA, Israel and other countries,"
he added.

As for the country’s commitments before international organizations
regarding peaceful resolution of the conflict, Mammadov said that
no country should sit on its hands and wait for international
organizations to ensure its security. "They (international
organizations) are parasitic organizations. They are making a career,
eating and drinking and driving on best cars. They have set up their
network and infrastructure in Azerbaijan… But they do nothing,"
he lamented.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress