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BAKU: Azeri officials dismiss separatist leader's remarks on 2004

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  • BAKU: Azeri officials dismiss separatist leader's remarks on 2004

    Azeri officials dismiss separatist leader's remarks on 2004 results

    Ekho, Baku
    30 Dec 04


    Azerbaijani officials have dismissed the remarks of the Karabakh
    separatist leader about the region's economic progress and military
    might in 2004. During his television appearance, the separatist leader
    of Nagornyy Karabakh, Arkadiy Gukasyan, praised the region's economic
    performance and military might, promising to increase social spending
    in 2005. A spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said that
    2004 did not bring anything good to Nagornyy Karabakh, while a member
    of parliament pointed out that most of Karabakh's budget depends on
    foreign money. In turn, a spokesman for the Azerbaijani Defence
    Ministry described Gukasyan's remarks about the Karabakh army as
    "self-delusion". The following is the text of R. Tofiqoglu's report by
    Azerbaijani newspaper Ekho on 30 December headlined "Arkadiy Gukasyan
    is threatening Azerbaijan with a war" and subheaded "He made this
    statement during his New Year congratulations to the residents of the
    'NKR'. In Azerbaijan, his remarks are being described as
    absurd". Subheadings have been inserted editorially:

    Separatist leader praises results of 2004

    Speaking on TV in connection with the end of 2004 on 29 December, "the
    president of Nagornyy Karabakh", Arkadiy Gukasyan, wished "the people
    of Artsakh [Nagornyy Karabakh], first of all, peace" in 2005.

    "This year was successful for the country in all respects. We were not
    affected by political or social turmoil. Thanks to the reforms
    conducted, we can see a steady tendency of growth and an increase in
    the volume of production. Economic growth has started to fulfil its
    main task: ensuring a gradual improvement in the welfare of people and
    rectifying their social situation. The government managed this year to
    increase the public sector wages and raise assistance to the most
    needy part of the population - first of all, to the families of
    liberator warriors who died or went missing, to the disabled, to the
    war veterans and to the families that have many children. Beginning
    from 2005, the state will provide housing for needy families. The
    amount of pensions and other social payments will steadily go up. The
    wages of those employed in health, education, culture and sports will
    also be increased."

    "It is clear that Gukasyan is trying to hide the true state of affairs
    with these words," the head of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry's
    press centre, Matin Mirza, has told Ekho newspaper. "In fact, 2004 did
    not bring anything good to the separatist regime or to the scarce
    population of the occupied territories. They see that strength and
    justice are on Azerbaijan's side and with every month that passes,
    this becomes clearer for the international community as well. This is
    a confirmation of the success of Azerbaijani diplomacy. We see that
    Yerevan's efforts to lure new settlers into the occupied territories
    by offering some discounts have failed. All these words are just a
    'show' and an attempt to play a trick on the uninformed population of
    the occupied territories."

    In his statement, Gukasyan went on to say the following: "I especially
    want to note that the 2005 state budget envisages a 30-per-cent
    increase in social spending. The foundations were laid in 2004 for the
    speedy construction of the North-South highway which is of strategic
    significance to Armenia in terms of reinforcing its military, economic
    and social security."

    In response to this, Sattar Safarov, head of the economic committee of
    the Milli Maclis [Azerbaijan's parliament], said that even if the
    revenues are rising in the "NKR", it happens not because of local
    production, but because of Gukasyan's yearly visits to
    Armenian-populated areas in the USA. He regularly cries there,
    complains about Azerbaijan's persecution and gathers millions of
    dollars."

    An army funded by diaspora and Washington

    Incidentally, America is also to blame for this, Safarov said. "I
    personally told officials in the State Department that they are
    conducting a two-faced policy. The entire revenue part of the 'NKR'
    budget is 12m dollars (thanks to the contributions of the diaspora),
    whereas the army that defends them requires 24-25m dollars every year
    for maintenance. Still, the USA presents in various ways some 12m
    dollars to the 'NKR' every year. Thus, half of the money for the army
    is given by overseas Armenians and the other half comes from
    Washington."

    "Over the past year, our army has become even stronger and more
    prepared for military operations. The problems of the NKR's defence
    army, including the social ones, have been and will be in the focus of
    the state. The might of our army allows us to conduct a successful
    foreign policy to defend the interests of Artsakh and its people in
    the international arena. I assure you that any efforts by Azerbaijan
    to upset the peaceful rhythm of our people will be duly repelled by
    the NKR's defence army," the "president of the NKR" concluded.

    The head of the [Azerbaijani] Defence Ministry's press service, Ramiz
    Malikov, described this part of Gukasyan's statement as "an attempt to
    pull the wool over people's eyes". "This is self-delusion, the NKR
    does not have any foreign policy and they do not even have an
    army. Even Armenia itself still does not dare to recognize the
    'NKR'. All this only pursues the objective of deceiving the people."

    In turn, Elxan Mammadov, an expert in conflict studies, said that
    Gukasyan does have some grounds for such absurd remarks. "He is
    actually in control of the situation in the territory. He receives
    sums that are huge for Karabakh from Yerevan and from abroad. The
    diaspora gathers some 10m dollars every year for Gukasyan to maintain
    the army and buy weapons. Gukasyan simply feels no threat from
    Azerbaijan and Baku is not doing anything to make him feel threatened
    or at least uncomfortable. Hence, he keeps making such 'good'
    statements."

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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