POLITICAL OPTIMISM: AZERI PRESIDENT CONFIDENT OF VICTORY IN KARABAKH AS ARMENIA POPULATION DWINDLES
News | 18.10.11 | 11:48
http://www.armenianow.com/news/32461/azerbaijan_aliev_karabakh_conflict
Political optimism: Azeri president confident of victory in Karabakh
as Armenia population dwindles
Photo: www.wikipedia.org
Ilham Aliyev
In an official speech on the 20th anniversary of Azerbaijan's
independence President Ilham Aliyev stressed that Baku continues
to increase its military spending, which, he said, was natural in
conditions of the existing Karabakh problem.
"The territorial integrity of Azerbaijan must be restored, the UN
resolutions on Nagorno-Karabakh must be fulfilled, and refugees and
internally displaced persons should return to their homes. I have no
doubt that everything will be just that," said Aliyev on October 17.
The Azeri leader said that in accordance with the task he set a few
years ago, today Azerbaijan's military budget exceeds Armenia's total
budget by $500 million. of Armenia. He stressed the superiority of
Azerbaijan over Armenia in all spheres.
"One of the reasons for my optimism is connected with the demographic
situation in the region. The population of Azerbaijan grows every
year, and we have over 9.1 million citizens. The population of Armenia
decreases from year to year... The most important thing is that the
people of Azerbaijan will never accept this situation and will ensure
the existence of Nagorno-Karabakh as an integral part of Azerbaijan,"
said Aliyev.
Authorities in Armenia, while expressing their concern to the
international community over Azerbaijan's military buildup, have
routinely dismissed Baku's military superiority in the Karabakh
conflict zone. Officials in Yerevan and Stepanakert maintain that
Karabakh Armenian forces are capable of repulsing any possible attack
from Azerbaijan. At the same time, the Armenian leadership has denied
any significant decrease in the strength of the population despite
concerns voiced by different local public groups regarding continuing
emigration from the country.
From: A. Papazian
News | 18.10.11 | 11:48
http://www.armenianow.com/news/32461/azerbaijan_aliev_karabakh_conflict
Political optimism: Azeri president confident of victory in Karabakh
as Armenia population dwindles
Photo: www.wikipedia.org
Ilham Aliyev
In an official speech on the 20th anniversary of Azerbaijan's
independence President Ilham Aliyev stressed that Baku continues
to increase its military spending, which, he said, was natural in
conditions of the existing Karabakh problem.
"The territorial integrity of Azerbaijan must be restored, the UN
resolutions on Nagorno-Karabakh must be fulfilled, and refugees and
internally displaced persons should return to their homes. I have no
doubt that everything will be just that," said Aliyev on October 17.
The Azeri leader said that in accordance with the task he set a few
years ago, today Azerbaijan's military budget exceeds Armenia's total
budget by $500 million. of Armenia. He stressed the superiority of
Azerbaijan over Armenia in all spheres.
"One of the reasons for my optimism is connected with the demographic
situation in the region. The population of Azerbaijan grows every
year, and we have over 9.1 million citizens. The population of Armenia
decreases from year to year... The most important thing is that the
people of Azerbaijan will never accept this situation and will ensure
the existence of Nagorno-Karabakh as an integral part of Azerbaijan,"
said Aliyev.
Authorities in Armenia, while expressing their concern to the
international community over Azerbaijan's military buildup, have
routinely dismissed Baku's military superiority in the Karabakh
conflict zone. Officials in Yerevan and Stepanakert maintain that
Karabakh Armenian forces are capable of repulsing any possible attack
from Azerbaijan. At the same time, the Armenian leadership has denied
any significant decrease in the strength of the population despite
concerns voiced by different local public groups regarding continuing
emigration from the country.
From: A. Papazian