THE FACTOR OF FORCE REMAINS DECISIVE IN THE SITUATION RELATED TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH
DEFENSE and SECURITY
March 12, 2008 Wednesday
Russia
After a few hours of intensive fighting, Azerbaijani soldiers
hurriedly retreated, leaving eight dead soldiers and ammunition
on the battlefield. Two soldiers were wounded on the side of
Nagorno-Karabakh. The Defense Ministry of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
once again warned Azerbaijan that any infringing on the security of
the republic would be "stopped decisively." Authorities of Stepanakert,
the capital city of Nagorno-Karabakh, called on the Azerbaijani party
to observe the truce regime and not to threaten peace and security
in the region.
Interestingly, on the same day President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliev,
announced that his country would buy "military hardware, airplanes
and ammunition to be able to liberate its territories. The military
budget of Azerbaijan amounts to $1.3 billion and will grow further."
Aliev announced this speaking at a meeting with veterans of the
Nagorno-Karabakh war in the Hanlar District located near the
frontline. The President said, "The conflict will find a peaceful
resolution when Armenians feel the power of Azerbaijan." There
was also another illustrative phrase in his speech: "The norms of
international law are broken in the world and this has a negative
impact on resolving conflicts. The factor of force remains decisive
and we will achieve this."
Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan commented on the situation.
At a press conference on March 4 he announced, "The situation was
not quiet on the borders of Armenia in the last two days. Today,
Azerbaijan attacked one of our positions and nearly succeeded."
According to Sarkisyan, the Armenian party proposed the Defense
Ministry of Azerbaijan to stop provocations. Commenting on the
statements of Ilham Aliev, Sarkisyan remarked that he ruled out a
possibility of resolving the conflict in a military fashion.
According to Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan, what has
happened is the serious speculation of Baku on the current situation in
Armenia. Oskanyan adds that Azerbaijanis think that all the attention
of Armenian authorities is focused on domestic problems now and they
try to use this circumstance. However, according to the minister,
this option of events development will fail.