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BAKU: Kocharian may start war in Karabakh to remain in office

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  • BAKU: Kocharian may start war in Karabakh to remain in office

    Armenian leader may start war in Karabakh to remain in office - Azeri daily

    Ekho, Baku
    26 Mar 04

    The military conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan may resume in
    April. The command and staff exercises of the Armenian armed forces
    which started this week "in order to get the army fully operational",
    may be the first step to increase tension.

    "War is today the only option for [Armenian President] Robert
    Kocharyan to somehow silence the opposition," the chairman of the
    Helsinki Association of Armenia, Mikayel Daniyelyan, has told Ekho
    newspaper in an interview.

    [Correspondent] Military exercises started in Armenia this week.

    [Daniyelyan] Yes, we have begun military exercises. At this stage,
    they have more to do with the promise of the opposition to carry out
    serious actions of protest. Permanent actions of protest are expected
    in mid-April with the sole objective - resignation of the
    president. We will see what happens.

    The authorities are seriously concerned. They have replaced the
    prosecutor-general, dismissed several prosecutors and heads of police
    departments in various districts of Yerevan. The authorities are in
    need of more than ever control over the army, as there are fears that
    not all the top brass will follow [defence minister and Kocharyan's
    political ally] Serzh Sarkisyan. The more people there are in the
    army, the less of them can attend rallies. If Kocharyan sees that
    nothing can be achieved through these harsh measures (arrests, so on),
    then he will take this step (go to war - correspondent).

    The opposition took a decisive step towards unity this week. Following
    protracted negotiations, the Justice bloc and the National Unity Party
    issued a statement which said, in particular, that the Justice bloc
    and the National Unity Party are taking on responsibility to lead the
    national movement to fulfill national demands: remove the illegitimate
    regime, establish the constitutional order and legal authorities in
    Armenia. To that end, the sides agreed to jointly organize a
    nationwide demonstration of disobedience no later than by 13
    April. The date of the demonstration will be announced on 5 April. The
    Justice bloc and the National Unity Party will make a joint statement
    on that day. "We re-confirm our determination to struggle till the
    change of power in Armenia," the statement read.

    [Passage omitted: Citing a report in Russian newspaper]

    Robert Kocharyan has more than enough grounds for concern. In order to
    remain in office in such a situation, his only, and perhaps last,
    resort is to increase tension on the frontline, Mikayel Daniyelyan
    told Ekho.

    Armenia will hardly be able to resume military operations without a
    "cause". Official Armenian newspaper started dreaming it up as long
    as several weeks ago. Ekho reported earlier calls aired in Yerevan
    that Karabakh separatists "retain their right to launch a preventive
    attack" against Azerbaijan. The Armenian official press urges
    "harsher" approach towards Azerbaijan.

    [Passage omitted: David Shakhnazaryan's reported views]

    Meanwhile, as Ekho was told in the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry, the
    situation in the occupied territories and in Armenia is being
    carefully monitored, with information coming in from various
    sources. "At present, there is no tension on the frontline," the
    ministry said. However, the Azerbaijani army is ready to respond to
    provocation. "We have it all under control and our response will be
    instantaneous," the ministry said.
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