AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT: FAILURE TO SETTLE GARABAGH PROBLEM ON BASIS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW WILL ENDANGER SECURITY AROUND WORLD

Azerbaijan Business Center
June 19 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. The Azerbaijani government is ready to use
concerns on the occasion of "Kosovo precedent" for positive settlement
of Garabagh conflict unleashed by Armenia and following which 20%
of Azerbaijani territory is under occupation.

At today’s Milli Majlis session dedicated to the 90th anniversary of
parliamentarism President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan said that the
Gabaragh conflict is a source of great jeopardy for entire world.

"We try to settle it in a peaceful way, but this settlement should
base itself on justice, but not on somebody’s groundless desires. If
the solution of the Garabagh matter is not based on international
law, it will lead to chaos in world community. In such case jeopardy
of tension will only increase. It will become a great obstacle for
security of the whole region, realization of significant regional
projects," President Aliyev stated.

Azerbaijan insists on release of its occupied lands and their
reintegration with the rest territory of the country, expressing
readiness for cultural autonomy of the Armenian minority.

"The conflict can be settled only on the basis of principle of
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan with attaching status of high
autonomy to Nagorno Garabagh. It is practice adopted around the world
and I am glad that international community backs us. But only decisions
are not enough. The opposite party should take into consideration
military, political and economic capacities of Azerbaijan," the
President said.

Azerbaijan’s military budget is approaching to $2 bn a year that is
equivalent to annual budget of Armenia.