ALIYEV REJECTS COMPROMISE; SAYS NO TO KARABAKH SELF-DETERMINATION

Asbarez
/78616/aliyev-rejects-compromise-says-no-to-karaba kh-self-determination/
Mar 24th, 2010

BAKU (news.az)-Azeri President Ilham Aliyev has rejected a compromise
proposal by his Armenian counterpart, Serzh Sarkisian that territory
for security and self-determination for the Nagorno-Karabakh republic.

Sarkisian on Monday said Armenia could consider returning some of the
liberated territories between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan only
after firm guarantees from Baku and the international community for
the security and self-determination for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Aliyev ruled out that option during a speech at a holiday celebration
on Wednesday marking the start of Spring in Azerbaijan.

"That independence of Nagorno Karabakh beyond Azerbaijan is absolutely
unacceptable. This is our principal position. Nagorno Karabakh will
never be independent," Aliyev said. "Azerbaijan will never recognize
[Karabakh] and the international community will never recognize it."

The conflict’s settlement is "the most important problem" facing
Azerbaijan, Aliyev said, adding that the country has been quickly
developing its economy and military to "strengthen its position in
the negotiations process."

"Today we are the most economically developed country of the region
and our development cannot be compared to the development of other
countries," he said in an apparent reference to neighboring Armenia
and Karabakh.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress