AZERBAIJAN IMPEDES KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS – YEREVAN

Interfax
Feb 9 2009
Russia

Militant rhetoric of Azerbaijan impedes peaceful settlement of the
Karabakh conflict, Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian said
at the 45th Munich Security Conference on Sunday.

"You know how much their defense budget has grown and what new
impediments their militant statements create for the peace process. On
one hand, they declare the wish to negotiate. On the other hand,
they distort statements made in Moscow and Helsinki," the Armenian
public television quoted the minister.

"There is an impression that Azerbaijan has forgotten the Helsinki
statement, which says that there is no alternative to the peaceful
and political settlement of the Karabakh problem," Nalbandian said.

Yerevan does not want war, but it is not afraid of war either,
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said in Munich.

"I think certain politicians have the wrong impression that certain
methods may intimidate another country and that war may dictate
certain terms. I have said that before and I repeat that we do not
want war but we are not afraid of it either," Sargsyan said.

It was Azerbaijan that started the aggression against the Nagorno-
Karabakh republic which had gained independence. As a result of
hostilities Nagorno-Karabakh occupied some territories from which
hundreds of bombs flew at children, women and elderly people. One
cannot blame these people for they managed to evade complete
destruction, Sargsyan said.

The August aggression against South Ossetia showed the real level of
tensions in South Caucasus, the president said.

This is a reminder for all parties concerned that any careless words
and any imprudent moves bring a danger of unpredictable consequences,
Sargsyan said.

The arms race, the increase in the military budget, and belligerent
statements complicate the situation, which inevitably leads to
provocations.