SERGE SARGSYAN: SECURITY OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH IS NOT THREATENED
KarabakhOpen
13-09-2007 15:50:35
The Armenian government does not rule out any option of resolution of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Serge Sargsyan stated in a briefing on
September 12 in commenting on the fact that some members of parliament
demand the recognition of the independence of Karabakh, while others
believe in the unification with Armenia, PanARMENIAN.net reported. The
prime minister said thereby Yerevan does not rule out the recognition
of independence or the unification of NKR with Armenia. "However,
I think the recognition of the independence o NKR in this stage is
early and dangerous," Sargsyan stated.
In commenting on the question of members of parliament if the boosted
military budget of Azerbaijan does not pose threat to regional
security Serge Sargsyan said: "Today nothing threatens the security
of Nagorno-Karabakh." According to him, a scrutiny of the situation in
Azerbaijan reveals that Baku has not attained its goals. For instance,
he said the Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev promised to boost
the Azerbaijani military budget up to the state budget of Armenia,
i.e. up to about one billion dollars but it did not occur. The
state budget of Armenia will total 2.5 billion dollars in 2008,
and the military expenditure will be equal to the state budget of
Armenia in 1998. "As far as I know, the state budget of Armenia next
year will total 6.5 billion dollars, the military budget will total
1 billion dollars. In other words, next year Ilham Aliyev will not
keep his promise either," the Armenian prime minister says. Besides,
he says the Armenian government "makes additional efforts to sustain
the military balance in the region."
The prime minister disagreed with the remark of the parliamentarians
that the Armenian citizens are worried about Nagorno-Karabakh. "There
are political forces and separate politicians who do not care for NKR.
They would be happy if the war was sparked, and we lost," Sargsyan
stated. When the reporters asked him whom he meant in particular,
the prime minister said everyone knows these forces and politicians,
the Regnum reported.