Interfax, Russia
Jan 17 2009

Azerbaijan prefers to settle Karabkah conflict peacefully, but will
continue bolstering armed forces – Aliyev

BAKU Jan 17

Azerbaijan prefers to settle the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict through
negotiations, but at the same time it will continue to bolster its
military potential in the years to come, Azeri President Ilham Aliyev
said at a Cabinet session dealing with outcomes of the country’s
socioeconomic development in 2008 on Friday.

"We are trying to resolve the problem through negotiations, but at the
same time it is no secret to anybody that we are bolstering our
military might quite significantly. In the coming years, our military
spending will be further increased. I would like to say once again
that we are attaching primary significance to this area," Aliyev said,
adding that Azerbaijan would spend $2.3 billion for defense purposes
in 2009.

"We need to be prepared to liberate our native land at any time and
using any methods. We are prepared for this, but we need to be even
stronger," he said.

Aliyev recalled the Moscow Declaration signed in 2008 and said that
this document reflects Baku’s position on the Nagorno-Karabakh problem
and should "bring about tangible results in 2009." va