AZERBAIJANI MP: POLICY OF ARMENIA’S MILITARY JUNTA LEADS COUNTRY TO FIASCO
Z. Ahmadov

Today
3017.html
March 3 2010
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani MP says status quo on the Karabakh issue does not satisfy
Azerbaijan and it is high time to change it. The MP was commenting on
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s speech he delivered at a meeting
with IDPs in country’s Gabala region.

"The president of our country Ilham Aliyev is the only person in
Azerbaijan directly involved in negotiations with Armenia over the
Karabakh issue. Therefore, the public, media and others constantly
keep track of his speeches to catch any details concerning the
negotiations with Armenia because he knows the course of a dialogue
with Armenia better than anyone. All other opinions on the matter
are merely comments," the MP said.

As the president said, it is time to change the current status quo and
everyone should already understand this. Internally displaced people
from Armenia and the Armenia-occupied territories of Azerbaijan
are severe social and economic burden for Azerbaijan. It is high
time for them to return to their native lands. In this regard,
the question of liberation of the seven occupied areas (around the
former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region) is on the agenda, and
has strategic importance for us. Therefore, Azerbaijan’s position on
these territories have become stronger," he said.

"In my opinion, the President’s speech was also directed against the
fake and far-fetched Armenian history. Compared with 1988, Armenian
nationalists have stepped up claims to Azerbaijan. Authorities in
Armenia are trying to present themselves as a victor of the war
over Karabakh. First, they must know that the war is not over. Only
the first stage of confrontation is over. Secondly, no Armenian
inhabitant has enjoyed benefits of "victory" over Azerbaijan in
country’s socio-economic and their daily life so far."

"If the Karabakh Armenians lived within Azerbaijan, they could enjoy
the rights of autonomy that exists, for example, in Nakhchivan,
and would enjoy much better socio-economic condition. It should be
noted that the budget of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic totals
450 million dollars, which is almost comparable to Armenia’s income,"
the MP added.

"Taking into account that international law and justice are on our
side, Azerbaijan reserves the right to act till the end to recover its
occupied territories. Of course, we want to do this through peaceful
negotiations. But, as stated by President Ilham Aliyev on numerous
occasions, Azerbaijan will not accept loss of its territories, and
we are ready to resume the war to liberate our land at any moment."

"At the same time, Azerbaijan purchases modern weapons and equipment
and applies new standards in its army. All this makes Armenia to arm
and start some kind of arms race with Azerbaijan. But the policy of a
military junta in Armenia leads the country to a fiasco. The reason
is quite simple. Armenia has much less internal resources drawn
from the national budget compared with Azerbaijan. Of course, they
try not to lag behind us allocating more resources to the army. This
exhausts their budget more and more each year leading the country to
a standstill," the Azerbaijani MP noted.