BABAYAN’S POLITICAL CAREER HAS ENDED

A1+
03:43 pm | July 22, 2009

Politics

"My political career has ended," former Karabakh Army chief, Lieutenant
General Samvel Babayan was quoted as saying.

"I am not going to affiliate myself with any political party," Samvel
Babayan told a press conference today.

With regard to the Karabakh conflict settlement, Samvel Babayan
announced, "Azerbaijan wants to wage a war, and Armenia must get
ready. Even if Azerbaijan makes some progress it will lose the war
as they will have more than 2-3 million refugees and will have to
feed them instead of the army."

Samvel Babayan is against territorial surrender. "People have shed
blood on these territories and we can let no surrender," notes
Mr. Babayan and adds that the rumours about territorial surrender
have been circulated since 1996.

The disputed territories are rich in gold and mines and can be ceded in
no case. Every time I watch Aliyev at the negotiation table I get the
impression that Azerbaijan is the winner and Armenia-the loser. The
real winner seems to be the one who lost the war."

Samvel Babayan also announced that Armenia is not a conflicting side
to determine Karabakh’s fate. "I have participated in the negotiations
over Karabakh since 1999. And if ever I failed to be present at the
talks the American side made me do it."

A1+ observed that former Karabakh leaders and officials have settled
in Armenia and wondered who would take care of Karabakhi people and
their security.

"I didn’t leave Karabakh. I simple settled in Armenia not to intervene
in Karbakh’s life. I don’t want to make an impression that I pine
for power. If I stayed there I would continue my struggle against
wrongfulness. On the other hand, I knew that all issues are discussed
and settled in Armenia. The second reason for my resettlement was
that," answered Mr. Babayan.