ARMENIAN LEADER SLAMS AZERBAIJAN FOR INCREASING ARMY SPENDING

Public TV
April 16 2008
Armenia

Armenia’s new President Serzh Sargsyan has come out for a more
proactive and vigorous foreign policy, Public TV reported on 16 April.

Speaking at a ceremony to introduce a new minister at the Foreign
Ministry, Sargsyan said that conditions should be created for the
peaceful and fair settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.

Sargsyan criticized Azerbaijan for trying to resolve the conflict
through beefing up its army.

"Azerbaijan is seriously mistaken if it thinks that its army can
become combat ready by merely investing dollars within a short period
of time and that it can resolve the issue of Nagornyy Karabakh with
the help of its army," Public TV quoted Sargsyan as saying. Sargsyan
said that the existence of the state of Nagornyy Karabakh was already
irreversible, adding that Armenia would continue to be the guarantor
of Nagornyy Karabakh’s security, TV reported.