ARMENIA ‘BLUFFING’ ON SUSPENSION OF TURKISH RAPPROCHEMENT
news.az
April 23 2010
Azerbaijan
The Armenian president has suspended ratification of the accords with
Turkey just for show, a retired Azerbaijani officer has said.
The chairman of the Association of Retired and Reserve Officers,
Yashar Jafarli, said that Serzh Sargsyan’s statement on suspension
of the ratification was a bluff, an emotional response to the Turkish
prime minister’s comments on the impossibility of opening the border
prior to Armenia’s withdrawal of troops from Azerbaijani territory.
‘I think Sargsyan’s words are a sort of response to Erdogan. The
speech by the Armenian president can only imitate the suspension of
the peace process, as Armenia is interested in open borders more than
Turkey or Azerbaijan.’
Asked about the impact of Sargsyan’s action on the Karabakh peace
process, Jafarli said that there would be no impact at all since the
long drawn-out Karabakh process had repeatedly proved itself dependent
on forces a long way from the borders of Armenia. ‘The negotiations
have been held since the mid-90’s, but the parties have not yet moved
to action. I am convinced that the only factor that could push the
talks is the readiness of our country for war. However, Azerbaijan
is not prepared for war.’
Jafarli said that success in the Karabakh talks depended directly on
Azerbaijan’s readiness for war.