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ALIEV INTIMATES CHANCE OF GIVING AUTONOMY TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH
by Sevindzh Abdullayeva, Viktor Shulman
ITAR-TASS News Agency
March 16, 2006 Thursday 06:48 AM EST
Azerbaijan President Ilkham Aliev did not preclude a chance of granting
an autonomy status to Nagorno-Karabakh. The president expressed this
idea at the second world congress of Azerbaijanis in Baku on Thursday.
"Granting of an autonomy to Nagorno Karabakh is possible, and positive
experience in this sphere, existing in the world, can be applied with
respect to this area of Azerbaijan," Aliev said. In this connection,
he called on Armenia for a constructive attitude to the negotiating
process.
The Azerbaijan leader emphasized that the negotiating process cannot
be endless. "Patience of the Azerbaijan authorities and people is
petering out," Aliev said. He noted that Azerbaijan's participation in
the negotiating process indicates its desire to settle the Karabakh
conflict peacefully. "While we feel that there is a chance for a
political settlement of the problem, we shall conduct negotiations.
"But if we see that the process turns into a simulation, we shall
quit it," Aliev said. He also emphasized that Azerbaijan would sign a
peace agreement with Armenia only if the Karabakh conflict is settled
on the basis of norms of international law. "We shall never agree to
a loss of our territories," Aliev stressed.
He noted that Azerbaijan would consolidate its military potential.
"I set the task that Azerbaijan's military expenditures will be equal
over the next few years to the total budget of Armenia," Aliev stated.
by Sevindzh Abdullayeva, Viktor Shulman
ITAR-TASS News Agency
March 16, 2006 Thursday 06:48 AM EST
Azerbaijan President Ilkham Aliev did not preclude a chance of granting
an autonomy status to Nagorno-Karabakh. The president expressed this
idea at the second world congress of Azerbaijanis in Baku on Thursday.
"Granting of an autonomy to Nagorno Karabakh is possible, and positive
experience in this sphere, existing in the world, can be applied with
respect to this area of Azerbaijan," Aliev said. In this connection,
he called on Armenia for a constructive attitude to the negotiating
process.
The Azerbaijan leader emphasized that the negotiating process cannot
be endless. "Patience of the Azerbaijan authorities and people is
petering out," Aliev said. He noted that Azerbaijan's participation in
the negotiating process indicates its desire to settle the Karabakh
conflict peacefully. "While we feel that there is a chance for a
political settlement of the problem, we shall conduct negotiations.
"But if we see that the process turns into a simulation, we shall
quit it," Aliev said. He also emphasized that Azerbaijan would sign a
peace agreement with Armenia only if the Karabakh conflict is settled
on the basis of norms of international law. "We shall never agree to
a loss of our territories," Aliev stressed.
He noted that Azerbaijan would consolidate its military potential.
"I set the task that Azerbaijan's military expenditures will be equal
over the next few years to the total budget of Armenia," Aliev stated.