PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN: "I CANNOT RULE OUT A MILITARY SOLUTION TO THE NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT"

AzerTag
July 15 2009
Azerbaijan

"In the process of the conflict settlement between Armenia and
Azerbaijan "more encouraging dynamics" has formed, there are the first
results, but they are insufficient so far for the achievement of the
specific goal – establishment of the final peace", said President
of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in his speech at the Royal Institute of
International Affairs in London.

"For the past 15 years we have been living in the conditions in which
we have neither war nor peace," the president noted. He stressed
that any settlement of the conflict around Nagorno-Karabakh should
include the preservation of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. "We
understand Armenia’s concern and are ready to consider corresponding
issues. We are also ready to provide the needed autonomy level
to Nagorno-Karabakh, but only within the framework of the united
Azerbaijani state," President Aliyev emphasized. The president also
noted that the sides involved in the conflict should clearly realize
that there can be no talk about independence of Nagorno-Karabakh,
because this contradicts the principles of international law
and already adopted on Nagorno-Karabakh resolutions of the
leading international organizations, including the UN Security
Council. "Azerbaijan is committed to the peaceful settlement of the
conflict, the past 15 years have proved in reality our clear-cut
position," President Aliyev stressed. The president also noted,
"Unfortunately, I cannot totally rule out a military solution, as we
have the total and based on international laws right to restore our
territorial integrity that not a single country questions." "Today
Azerbaijan has powerful and modern armed forces that are capable of
restoring the country’s territorial integrity," President Aliyev
stated adding that Baku "intends to continue to seek the conflict
settlement by peaceful methods."