ARMENIA 'CANNOT DEVELOP' WITHOUT TURKEY AND AZERBAIJAN
news.az
July 22 2010
Azerbaijan
Novruz Mammadov Armenia will eventually have to return the body of
an Azerbaijani soldier killed in a clash on the contact line, a top
Azerbaijani official has said.
In the same way, Armenia will have to acknowledge that it cannot
develop without Azerbaijan and Turkey, Novruz Mammadov, head of the
foreign relations department at the Presidential Administration,
told reporters on Wednesday
By refusing to return the Azerbaijani soldier's body, Armenia is
contravening international humanitarian law, Mammadov said.
Warrant Officer Mubariz Ibrahimov was killed in an incident on 18-19
June on the contact line separating Armenian and Azerbaijani troops.
Four soldiers of the Karabakh forces also died in the clash.
"Unfortunately, the Armenians have shown their nature, thereby,
running counter to international organizations and international
humanitarian laws and rules. But I think that by doing so they are
discrediting themselves and this issue must be settled sooner or
later. Serious steps are being taken in this direction and we are
continuing work with the relevant structures," Trend news agency
reported Novruz Mammadov as saying.
"The return of the body of the Azerbaijani soldier is part of
the process of settling the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over
Nagorno-Karbakh. The Armenians are too sure of themselves in this
whole process, like people who are not subject to these laws. But
the Armenian leadership and Armenian people should know that in this
process they are now calling into question the very existence of
this country and this people in future. They can be 100% sure that
they won't achieve anything this way. International organizations and
circles should take a more serious, firmer position on this issue,"
Mammadov said.
He was confident that a settlement would be found to the Karabakh
conflict.
"In fact, the Armenian leadership is hostage to the issue of
the Karabakh conflict settlement. If the conflict is settled, the
corridor and communications between Azerbaijan and its territory of
Nakhchivan can open at any time. There should be no doubt about this,"
Mammadov said.
"Armenia needs this corridor more than we do. The Armenian leadership
and Armenian nation have created a great obstacle to their development,
cutting off paths to development for a long time. Armenia cannot
develop in the region without Turkey and Azerbaijan. They think about
it but cannot risk taking this step," the head of department said.
As for the meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers
in Almaty at the weekend, Novruz Mammadov said the meeting had failed
to produce the desired result.
"But I think the process has not been stopped. Now all circles of
the international community, the co-chairs [of the OSCE Minsk Group
mediators], presidents and ministers are taking joint steps. The
Armenian side will have to respond sooner or later. The Armenian
side often takes such steps to protract time but the world community,
international community and the co-chairing states must demand that
Armenia take definite action. Armenia has no other way out.
"A response must be made to the Madrid principles [proposed by the
OSCE as a basis for talks] and we are waiting for this," Mammadov said.
From: A. Papazian
news.az
July 22 2010
Azerbaijan
Novruz Mammadov Armenia will eventually have to return the body of
an Azerbaijani soldier killed in a clash on the contact line, a top
Azerbaijani official has said.
In the same way, Armenia will have to acknowledge that it cannot
develop without Azerbaijan and Turkey, Novruz Mammadov, head of the
foreign relations department at the Presidential Administration,
told reporters on Wednesday
By refusing to return the Azerbaijani soldier's body, Armenia is
contravening international humanitarian law, Mammadov said.
Warrant Officer Mubariz Ibrahimov was killed in an incident on 18-19
June on the contact line separating Armenian and Azerbaijani troops.
Four soldiers of the Karabakh forces also died in the clash.
"Unfortunately, the Armenians have shown their nature, thereby,
running counter to international organizations and international
humanitarian laws and rules. But I think that by doing so they are
discrediting themselves and this issue must be settled sooner or
later. Serious steps are being taken in this direction and we are
continuing work with the relevant structures," Trend news agency
reported Novruz Mammadov as saying.
"The return of the body of the Azerbaijani soldier is part of
the process of settling the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over
Nagorno-Karbakh. The Armenians are too sure of themselves in this
whole process, like people who are not subject to these laws. But
the Armenian leadership and Armenian people should know that in this
process they are now calling into question the very existence of
this country and this people in future. They can be 100% sure that
they won't achieve anything this way. International organizations and
circles should take a more serious, firmer position on this issue,"
Mammadov said.
He was confident that a settlement would be found to the Karabakh
conflict.
"In fact, the Armenian leadership is hostage to the issue of
the Karabakh conflict settlement. If the conflict is settled, the
corridor and communications between Azerbaijan and its territory of
Nakhchivan can open at any time. There should be no doubt about this,"
Mammadov said.
"Armenia needs this corridor more than we do. The Armenian leadership
and Armenian nation have created a great obstacle to their development,
cutting off paths to development for a long time. Armenia cannot
develop in the region without Turkey and Azerbaijan. They think about
it but cannot risk taking this step," the head of department said.
As for the meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers
in Almaty at the weekend, Novruz Mammadov said the meeting had failed
to produce the desired result.
"But I think the process has not been stopped. Now all circles of
the international community, the co-chairs [of the OSCE Minsk Group
mediators], presidents and ministers are taking joint steps. The
Armenian side will have to respond sooner or later. The Armenian
side often takes such steps to protract time but the world community,
international community and the co-chairing states must demand that
Armenia take definite action. Armenia has no other way out.
"A response must be made to the Madrid principles [proposed by the
OSCE as a basis for talks] and we are waiting for this," Mammadov said.
From: A. Papazian