news.az, Azerbaijan
July 1 2011

Majority of Baku residents advocate peaceful resolution of Karabakh conflict
Fri 01 July 2011 12:11 GMT | 8:11 Local Time

Majority of Baku residents believe that Azerbaijan will be able regain
its occupied lands in case of resumption of war over Nagorno-Karabakh.
Asked whether Azerbaijan can solve the Karabakh conflict by military
means if necessary, 58% said `yes’, 22% – said “rather yes than no” 6%
– “no,” 4% – “rather no than yes” while the remaining 10% were
undecided, according to a survey conducted by the Monitoring Centre
Ray (Opinion).

Asked in what ways the Karabakh conflict can be solved, 63% of
respondents preferred talks while 33% preferred military way.

The poll also revealed significant public interest in the military
parade held on 26 June in Baku on the Day of Armed Forces and 20th
anniversary of independence of Azerbaijan. Almost all respondents
(94%) know about the event or watched it on TV, 3% – keep track of the
events, the remaining heard about the parade first from the
interviewers or were undecided.

The survey showed that Baku residents welcomed the military parade:
88% approve it, 8% – reacted neutrally, and 4% – were undecided or
indifferent to the military parade.

Almost all respondents (92%) appreciated creation of the country’s
defense industry.

The respondents were asked to answer the following question: “If
someone in your family was called to the army, what would you prefer:
he serves in the army or avoids it?’

Some 84% of Baku residents said they would like to see their relative
to be called up for military service; 8% found it difficult to answer,
and another 8% admitted that they want their children to avoid
military conscription.

Interfax-Azerbaijan