AZERBAIJAN PREPARING FOR WAR, SAYS DEFENSE MINISTER

asbarez
Monday, February 14th, 2011

Azeri Defense Minister Safar Abiyev

BAKU (Today’s Zaman)-Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister Safar Abiyev told
OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen that his country is seriously preparing
for war against Armenia to “liberate its territories from occupation.”

“Azerbaijan is seriously preparing to liberate its territories,”
Abiyev reportedly told the co-chairs, the defense ministry’s press
release said on Friday.

Abiyev defended his comments by referring to the traditional practice
of other countries, saying that every country would act similarly in
these situations. In the statement Abiyev emphasized the necessity
of implementing current international norms and provided examples of
situations in which international law was successfully implemented.

Abiyev also criticized the activities of the Minsk Group and said
that while diplomatic overtures of the mediators have not produced
any results, Azerbaijan has not yet lost its hope in the group.

Ziyafat Asgarov, the deputy speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament,
told reporters in December of last year that Azerbaijan reserves the
right to liberate its occupied territories. When asked whether war
was on the agenda, Asgarov said, “You will see it very soon.”

Novruz Mammadov, the director of the department of foreign relations
in the presidential administration of Azerbaijan, told ANS TV channel
on Saturday that it is natural for Azerbaijan to intensify its war
rhetoric, pointing to the failure of mediators to bring about peace
in the conflict.

“The only job of the international community and OSCE Minsk Group is
to make Armenia accept the proposals on the table,” Mammadov said.

“It is very natural that Azerbaijan increase its military calls because
we have been negotiating for many years already. Because the talks
have not produced the outcome we want, the Azerbaijani president
[Ilham Aliyev] is highlighting the right of Azerbaijani army to
liberate our territories and this is only natural,” Mammadov concluded.

Nagorno-Karabakh Republic authorities reacted to Abiyev’s comments,
releasing a declaration that the Armenian troops were constantly
training to repel any attempt by Azerbaijan to seize the region back,
AFP quoted Interfax news agency as saying on Saturday.

The statement said Karabakh forces were ready “if necessary, to ensure
that any encroachment by the enemy meets with adequate retaliation.”

From: A. Papazian