Interfax, Russia
Sept 18 2009

Armenia’s stance on Karabakh leaves it with no future prospects – Baku
officials

BAKU Sept 18

Armenia’s unconstructive position on Nagorno-Karabakh makes this
country’s economic future unpromising, said Elnur Aslanov of the Azeri
presidential administration.

"Today Azerbaijan is the only country in the region which conducts an
independent policy. Today Azerbaijan has turned into an economic
leader in the region, while Armenia is seeing a regress," Aslanov told
an international conference on stability and security in the Caspian
region currently held in Baku.

According to a report unveiled by the International Monetary Fund on
Thursday, Armenia’s external debt has exceeded 31% of its GDP, he
said.

"This means that the future of Armenia has no prospects," Aslanov
said.

The reason for this situation is Armenia’s unconstructive position on
Nagorno-Karabakh, which consists in continuing the occupation of a
section of Azerbaijan’s territory, Aslanov said.