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SERZH SARGSYAN: AZERBAIJAN ONLY COUNTRY IN OSCE AREA BOASTING MANIFOLD INCREASE IN MILITARY SPENDING
news.am
Jan 27 2011
Armenia
Humanitarian problems in Nagorno-Karabakh dispute can be addressed
only after a political solution to the conflict is found, Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan stated in an interview with 'Echo' of Moscow.
According to him, it is difficult to expect any significant results
in solving humanitarian issues at this time.
"When I speak of long-term peace, I am referring to some change
in people's psychology. There is such anti-Armenian rhetoric and
xenophobia in Azerbaijan that even a new phrase has appeared -all
Armenian plottings. Azeris have blamed Armenians for all their
problems, starting from refugees to an iron malfunctioning in their
house. The humanitarian issues could have been and needed to be
discussed in 1995, after the truce was signed. It was a very good
opportunity for us to somehow try to forget the grief. However,
the Azerbaijani leadership chose another path; they considered it a
respite and began to arm. They waited for a good time when they would
earn a lot of petrodollars and could afford to buy weapons and could
resolve the issue by force," Sargsyan said.
"Azerbaijan is the only country in OSCE area that boasts a large
increase in its military spending. It is rather unclear to me.
Actually, to tell you the truth, it is clear. I understand the OSCE
members' position but not that of the world powers who always say peace
should be established in Karabakh and all issues should be resolved
peacefully. These are good words, but only declarations are signed
when there is a gap between words and deeds. We signed the Treaty
on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, in which quotas have been
set. I understand the complexities of the treaty and some countries'
attitude towards the treaty. But either we must say the agreement
does not exist, or should we call on colleagues and members of the
organization to comply with treaty commitments," the President noted.
Serzh Sargsyan also referred to the possible resumption of hostilities,
stressing that this is the most undesirable way. "To tell you the
truth, we have no choice. Only our desire to resolve the conflict
peacefully is not enough. If there is no other way out, we will find
ourselves in the situation of the early 90's. We should protect our
population by any means," he said.
"I remember the situation in the period of 1988 to 1994 very well,
when many did not spare efforts to say that in the case of large-scale
military operations, Azeris will have tea in Stepanakert or someone
will wash his feet in Sevan within a few days. Thank God it did not
happen, because we protected our land, families and homes.
In 1994, Azerbaijan was simply forced to ask for a truce. In 1993,
four UN Security Council resolutions demanded that the hostilities
be stopped immediately, and Azerbaijan failed to do so. Now they
claim that Armenia failed to comply with these resolutions. However,
the international community knows that it did not depend on us. We
defended ourselves."
"I have repeatedly stated that we are against a war, but that doesn't
mean we are afraid of it. If by some miracle Karabakh was under
Azerbaijani control even for an hour, there would be no Armenian left
there. We must protect our population using any means necessary,"
the President stressed.
From: A. Papazian
news.am
Jan 27 2011
Armenia
Humanitarian problems in Nagorno-Karabakh dispute can be addressed
only after a political solution to the conflict is found, Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan stated in an interview with 'Echo' of Moscow.
According to him, it is difficult to expect any significant results
in solving humanitarian issues at this time.
"When I speak of long-term peace, I am referring to some change
in people's psychology. There is such anti-Armenian rhetoric and
xenophobia in Azerbaijan that even a new phrase has appeared -all
Armenian plottings. Azeris have blamed Armenians for all their
problems, starting from refugees to an iron malfunctioning in their
house. The humanitarian issues could have been and needed to be
discussed in 1995, after the truce was signed. It was a very good
opportunity for us to somehow try to forget the grief. However,
the Azerbaijani leadership chose another path; they considered it a
respite and began to arm. They waited for a good time when they would
earn a lot of petrodollars and could afford to buy weapons and could
resolve the issue by force," Sargsyan said.
"Azerbaijan is the only country in OSCE area that boasts a large
increase in its military spending. It is rather unclear to me.
Actually, to tell you the truth, it is clear. I understand the OSCE
members' position but not that of the world powers who always say peace
should be established in Karabakh and all issues should be resolved
peacefully. These are good words, but only declarations are signed
when there is a gap between words and deeds. We signed the Treaty
on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, in which quotas have been
set. I understand the complexities of the treaty and some countries'
attitude towards the treaty. But either we must say the agreement
does not exist, or should we call on colleagues and members of the
organization to comply with treaty commitments," the President noted.
Serzh Sargsyan also referred to the possible resumption of hostilities,
stressing that this is the most undesirable way. "To tell you the
truth, we have no choice. Only our desire to resolve the conflict
peacefully is not enough. If there is no other way out, we will find
ourselves in the situation of the early 90's. We should protect our
population by any means," he said.
"I remember the situation in the period of 1988 to 1994 very well,
when many did not spare efforts to say that in the case of large-scale
military operations, Azeris will have tea in Stepanakert or someone
will wash his feet in Sevan within a few days. Thank God it did not
happen, because we protected our land, families and homes.
In 1994, Azerbaijan was simply forced to ask for a truce. In 1993,
four UN Security Council resolutions demanded that the hostilities
be stopped immediately, and Azerbaijan failed to do so. Now they
claim that Armenia failed to comply with these resolutions. However,
the international community knows that it did not depend on us. We
defended ourselves."
"I have repeatedly stated that we are against a war, but that doesn't
mean we are afraid of it. If by some miracle Karabakh was under
Azerbaijani control even for an hour, there would be no Armenian left
there. We must protect our population using any means necessary,"
the President stressed.
From: A. Papazian