AZERBAIJAN WILL CONTINUE ISOLATING ARMENIA – ALIYEV

Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS Presidential Bulletin
October 13, 2008
Russia

Baku will continue its policy of isolating Armenia, unless the latter
ends its occupation of Azerbaijan’s lands, Azerbaijan President
Ilham Aliyev said on Monday at a government’s expanded meeting on
the results of the country’s socio- economic development in the first
nine months of 2008.

"As long as our lands remain occupied, the policy of a total
offensive against Armenia will continue diplomatically, politically,
economically, as well as in transport, military, propaganda and other
areas. This is certain," Aliyev said.

"Until the [Karabakh] issue is resolved there can be no cooperation
with Armenia, nor their participation in any regional project. And
we will do everything we can to make sure that today’s situation
continues, that their [Armenians’] isolation gets worse so that they
better understand what their future depends on," the president said.

To speed up resolution of the Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijan is
strengthening its army, with $4.5 billion having been invested in
the defense sector over the past five years, Aliyev said.