ELKHAN NURIYEV: "AZERBAIJAN DOES NOT HIDE ITS MILITARY POWER AND IT WILL CONTINUE POLICY OF FURTHER STRENGTHENING OF ITS DEFENSE POTENTIAL"
APA
May 20 2010
Azerbaijan
Moscow. Roman Agayev – APA. "Duty of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
is to convince the Armenian side of accepting the updated Madrid
principles in order to start the discussions over the existing issues
on Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Azerbaijan has always demonstrated
constructive position and it has committed to the pragmatic position.
And it is the position of Azerbaijan’s leadership regarding the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict", said Director of the Strategic Research Center
(SRC) under Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Elkhan Nuriyev at
the press conference in Moscow, APA’s correspondent in Moscow reports.
Touching upon the perspectives of Armenia – Turkey relations,
Nuriyev noted that unlike the European Union, Turkey has principal
and pragmatic position on opening of Turkey – Armenia borders and
withdrawal of protocols from the Armenian parliament shows that the
policy carried on by Yerevan overturned: "Nevertheless, Turkey’s role
in the Caucasus region increased and its strategic alliance with
Azerbaijan further strengthened. Moreover, positive tendencies are
also observed in Russia Turkey relations. Armenian side must seriously
think of that".
According to him, Azerbaijan is committed to peaceful solution of the
conflict. "Yes, we do not hide our military power and we will continue
policy of further strengthening of our defense potential and military
– industry complex in order to liberate our occupied territories from
the Armenian occupation in case of necessity. One may talk about the
opening of borders and restoration of communications only after the
withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the occupied territories
and return of IDPs to their homeland".
Nuriyev also stated that the issue of territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan can never be a subject of discussion. OSCE Ministerial
Council in Athens passed special resolution on Nagorno Karabakh
conflict. Entire world has recognized the territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan.