AZERBAIJAN FLEXES MUSCLES
Moscow News (Russia)
July 6, 2007
BAKU (RIA Novosti) - Armenia must voluntarily cede Azerbaijaniterritory
if it wants to avoid a new war over Nagorno-Karabakh, theAzerbaijani
president said Monday.
"Azerbaijan is militarily the strongest power in the region,and our
neighbors should face up to this.
Armenia shouldvoluntarily withdraw its troops from Azerbaijani lands.
Only onthis condition will it be possible to say with certainty that
therewill not be a new war," Ilkham Aliyev said.
He said Azerbaijan will never put up with the occupation ofits lands
and is ready to free them by any means, includingmilitary.
"None of us want losses, but Azerbaijan is gaining strengthand is
ready to conduct any operation at any moment. We will neveraccept
the situation now prevailing," he said.
The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a region in Azerbaijanwith a
largely Armenian population, first erupted in 1988 when itdeclared
its independence from Azerbaijan, and moved to joinArmenia.
Over 30,000 people were killed on both sides between 1988 and1994,
and over 100 died following a 1994 ceasefire.Nagorno-Karabakh remained
in Armenian hands, but tensions betweenAzerbaijan and Armenia have
persisted. Azerbaijan is determined torestore its control over the
separatist region.
Moscow News (Russia)
July 6, 2007
BAKU (RIA Novosti) - Armenia must voluntarily cede Azerbaijaniterritory
if it wants to avoid a new war over Nagorno-Karabakh, theAzerbaijani
president said Monday.
"Azerbaijan is militarily the strongest power in the region,and our
neighbors should face up to this.
Armenia shouldvoluntarily withdraw its troops from Azerbaijani lands.
Only onthis condition will it be possible to say with certainty that
therewill not be a new war," Ilkham Aliyev said.
He said Azerbaijan will never put up with the occupation ofits lands
and is ready to free them by any means, includingmilitary.
"None of us want losses, but Azerbaijan is gaining strengthand is
ready to conduct any operation at any moment. We will neveraccept
the situation now prevailing," he said.
The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a region in Azerbaijanwith a
largely Armenian population, first erupted in 1988 when itdeclared
its independence from Azerbaijan, and moved to joinArmenia.
Over 30,000 people were killed on both sides between 1988 and1994,
and over 100 died following a 1994 ceasefire.Nagorno-Karabakh remained
in Armenian hands, but tensions betweenAzerbaijan and Armenia have
persisted. Azerbaijan is determined torestore its control over the
separatist region.
