Azerbaijan/Armenia (non) relations developments
'INTERIM DECISION' ON KARABAKH FOUND?
PanARMENIAN.Net
30.06.2008 13:19 GMT+04:00
Yerevan and Baku have a golden opportunity to resolve the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict, according to OSCE President.
"We have been working to find a solution to the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict for several years. There is an interim decision which will
have a positive impact on the Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. The
sides have a golden opportunity to resolve the conflict," Mr Goran
Lennmarker said in his address to 17th session of the OSCE PA in
Astana, Interfax reports.
Meanwhile, he mentioned, the Karabakh issue will not be discussed. "The
agenda includes issues referring to Georgia," he said. "OSCE member
states support Georgia's territorial integrity. Abkhazia is a part
of Georgia and a peaceful solution should be found in this vein."
It's the first-ever OSCE PA session held in Astana, the capital of
Kazakhstan, which will assume presidency in the OSCE in 2010.
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AZERBAIJAN'S ATTEMPTS TO TRANSFER KARABAKH PROBLEM TO
OTHER INSTANCES DO NOT PROMOTE RESOLUTION
PanARMENIAN.Net
30.06.2008 14:06 GMT+04:00
On June 28, NKR President Bako Sahakian in Stepanakert met with OSCE
Minsk Group Co-chairs, Ambassadors Matthew Bryza (the U.S.), Yuri
Merzlyakov (Russia) and Bernard Fassier (France) to discuss a wide
range of issues concerning the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.
President Sahakian emphasized that final solution of the problem is
impossible without Nagorno Karabakh's participation in the talks.
At that he remarked that Azerbaijan's anti-Armenian propaganda
and bellicose rhetoric don't promote creation of an atmosphere of
mutual confidence and affect the negotiation process as well as
peace and stability in the entire region. "Hostilities provoked
by the Azerbaijani armed forces in the Martakert region on March 4
illustrate it," Mr. Sahakian said, adding that official Stepanakert
stands for peaceful resolution of the conflict and establishment of
a direct dialogue with Baku.
Noting that the Karabakh conflict should be settled in the framework
of the OSCE Minsk group, President Sahakian said that Azerbaijan's
attempts to transfer it to other instances do not further the
process. The Co-chairs agreed fully with the viewpoint.
They also expressed readiness to assist peaceful settlement of the
conflict and noted that NKR's participation in the negotiation process
is an issue of time.
NKR Foreign Minister Georgy Petrossian and Personal Representative of
the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk also attended the meeting.
PanARMENIAN.Net
30.06.2008 14:06 GMT+04:00
On June 28, NKR President Bako Sahakian in Stepanakert met with OSCE
Minsk Group Co-chairs, Ambassadors Matthew Bryza (the U.S.), Yuri
Merzlyakov (Russia) and Bernard Fassier (France) to discuss a wide
range of issues concerning the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.
President Sahakian emphasized that final solution of the problem is
impossible without Nagorno Karabakh's participation in the talks.
At that he remarked that Azerbaijan's anti-Armenian propaganda
and bellicose rhetoric don't promote creation of an atmosphere of
mutual confidence and affect the negotiation process as well as
peace and stability in the entire region. "Hostilities provoked
by the Azerbaijani armed forces in the Martakert region on March 4
illustrate it," Mr. Sahakian said, adding that official Stepanakert
stands for peaceful resolution of the conflict and establishment of
a direct dialogue with Baku.
Noting that the Karabakh conflict should be settled in the framework
of the OSCE Minsk group, President Sahakian said that Azerbaijan's
attempts to transfer it to other instances do not further the
process. The Co-chairs agreed fully with the viewpoint.
They also expressed readiness to assist peaceful settlement of the
conflict and noted that NKR's participation in the negotiation process
is an issue of time.
NKR Foreign Minister Georgy Petrossian and Personal Representative of
the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk also attended the meeting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AZERBAIJAN SHOWS OFF MILITARY MIGHT
Voice of America News
June 26, 2008
Azerbaijan staged its first military parade in 16 years Thursday to
mark the anniversary of the founding of the country's armed forces.
Tanks and armored personnel carriers rolled through the streets
of Baku as military aircraft flew overhead in what news agencies
described as a show of force aimed partly at neighboring Armenia.
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev told participants the Azerbaijani
people are tired of negotiations with Armenia over the breakaway
Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. He said the talks cannot go
on forever.
Mr. Aliyev said Azerbaijan continues to live in a state of war due
to the unresolved conflict.
The Azerbaijani leader said the country's annual defense spending
has risen to more than $2 billion, 10 times what it was in 2003,
and will continue to increase.
The two countries fought a six-year conflict after residents of
the largely-Armenian-inhabited Nagorno-Karabakh region declared
independence in 1988. A 1994 cease-fire halted the most serious
fighting, though sporadic exchanges of gunfire continue. The conflict
has claimed 35,000 lives.
WAR WITH ARMENIA STILL CONTINUING, AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT
State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan
June 27, 2008
Azerbaijan is living in a state of war with Armenia and the war is
still continuing, said President Ilham Aliyev at a military parade
in Baku marking the 90th anniversary of the creation of Armed Forces.
A ceasefire is in force, said the President, adding it, however,
does not mean that the war is over.
We must be ready to liberate our native lands at any time, and this
is why we are building strong army, he noted.
Azerbaijan staged a military parade Thursday featuring troops, rocket
launch systems, tanks, helicopters and fighter jets.
State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan
June 27, 2008
Azerbaijan is living in a state of war with Armenia and the war is
still continuing, said President Ilham Aliyev at a military parade
in Baku marking the 90th anniversary of the creation of Armed Forces.
A ceasefire is in force, said the President, adding it, however,
does not mean that the war is over.
We must be ready to liberate our native lands at any time, and this
is why we are building strong army, he noted.
Azerbaijan staged a military parade Thursday featuring troops, rocket
launch systems, tanks, helicopters and fighter jets.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
KHAZAR IBRAHIM: "IT IS AZERBAIJAN THAT WILL DECIDE WHICH WAY
TO CHOOSE TO RESTORE ITS TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY"
Today.Az
June 30 2008
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani government voiced its position and noted that the conflict
can only be settled in the framework of territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan during the visit of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to Baku,
said spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Khazar Ibrahim
at a traditional briefing.
He said Azerbaijan's position remains changeless.
"As for the ways of resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijan
has always made statements, based on realities. Azerbaijan is a country
which is developing and this development influences all spheres.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev stated that during the military
parade. Azerbaijan will restore its territorial integrity and will
choose the way to it itself", said Ibrahim.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WASHINGTON ADVOCATES AZERBAIJAN'S ACCESSION TO NATO
Yuri Roks
RusData Dialine - Russian Press Digest
June 26, 2008 Thursday
During U.S.-Azerbaijani security consultations, to be held in Baku
in July, the sides may consider the possibility of Azerbaijan's
accession to NATO, Anne Derse, U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan, said
on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev plans
to visit Baku on July 3. Azerbaijan is the third country in the GUAM
block comprising Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova, which the
West says should be admitted to NATO. As for Moldova, its non-bloc
stance may change after the presidential elections this fall.
The Baku authorities claim to be surprised by Derse's words. Kyamil
Khasiyev, Azerbaijan's representative at the bloc, said: "Azerbaijan
is not in a hurry to join NATO, although our cooperation with it is
proceeding quite well." He also denied the possibility of holding a
referendum on NATO accession, as Georgia did.
Political analyst Rasim Musabekov said: "The Azerbaijani authorities
have never voiced a desire to join NATO." He thinks this would
have more serious consequences for the country than in the case of
Georgia. "Only Russia is against Georgia joining the bloc, but in our
case we will also have to deal with the opposition of Iran. And don't
forget about the frozen war with Armenia," Musabekov said, adding that
the benefits of joining NATO were questionable. "The West wants this,
but what would Baku gain?"
Alexei Malashenko, an expert at the Carnegie Moscow Center,
said: "There is nothing surprising in the processes underway in
Azerbaijan. They are logical, and I don't think Moscow views them
as sensational. If Azerbaijan joins NATO, this will add a highly
interesting factor to the Karabakh conflict."
David Babayan, a political analyst from the disputed Nagorno Karabakh
republic, said: "The territory of Azerbaijan is one of the most
desirable parts of the Europe-South Caucasus-Central Asia structure,
with a potential link to China and India. In this sense, the West
will, predictably, do its best to encourage NATO cooperation with
Azerbaijan."
Babakyan said Azerbaijan's possible accession to NATO would influence
the situation in Nagorno Karabakh, because the West needs stability
in the South Caucasus and therefore settlement of the Karabakh problem
to carry out its challenging geopolitical project.
Today.Az
June 30 2008
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani government voiced its position and noted that the conflict
can only be settled in the framework of territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan during the visit of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to Baku,
said spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Khazar Ibrahim
at a traditional briefing.
He said Azerbaijan's position remains changeless.
"As for the ways of resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijan
has always made statements, based on realities. Azerbaijan is a country
which is developing and this development influences all spheres.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev stated that during the military
parade. Azerbaijan will restore its territorial integrity and will
choose the way to it itself", said Ibrahim.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WASHINGTON ADVOCATES AZERBAIJAN'S ACCESSION TO NATO
Yuri Roks
RusData Dialine - Russian Press Digest
June 26, 2008 Thursday
During U.S.-Azerbaijani security consultations, to be held in Baku
in July, the sides may consider the possibility of Azerbaijan's
accession to NATO, Anne Derse, U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan, said
on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev plans
to visit Baku on July 3. Azerbaijan is the third country in the GUAM
block comprising Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova, which the
West says should be admitted to NATO. As for Moldova, its non-bloc
stance may change after the presidential elections this fall.
The Baku authorities claim to be surprised by Derse's words. Kyamil
Khasiyev, Azerbaijan's representative at the bloc, said: "Azerbaijan
is not in a hurry to join NATO, although our cooperation with it is
proceeding quite well." He also denied the possibility of holding a
referendum on NATO accession, as Georgia did.
Political analyst Rasim Musabekov said: "The Azerbaijani authorities
have never voiced a desire to join NATO." He thinks this would
have more serious consequences for the country than in the case of
Georgia. "Only Russia is against Georgia joining the bloc, but in our
case we will also have to deal with the opposition of Iran. And don't
forget about the frozen war with Armenia," Musabekov said, adding that
the benefits of joining NATO were questionable. "The West wants this,
but what would Baku gain?"
Alexei Malashenko, an expert at the Carnegie Moscow Center,
said: "There is nothing surprising in the processes underway in
Azerbaijan. They are logical, and I don't think Moscow views them
as sensational. If Azerbaijan joins NATO, this will add a highly
interesting factor to the Karabakh conflict."
David Babayan, a political analyst from the disputed Nagorno Karabakh
republic, said: "The territory of Azerbaijan is one of the most
desirable parts of the Europe-South Caucasus-Central Asia structure,
with a potential link to China and India. In this sense, the West
will, predictably, do its best to encourage NATO cooperation with
Azerbaijan."
Babakyan said Azerbaijan's possible accession to NATO would influence
the situation in Nagorno Karabakh, because the West needs stability
in the South Caucasus and therefore settlement of the Karabakh problem
to carry out its challenging geopolitical project.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ARMENIA DOES NOT PLAN TO JOIN NATO - PRESIDENT
Interfax News Agency
June 27 2008
Russia
Armenia does not plan to join NATO, Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan said."We have always said and are saying now that Armenia's
foreign political agenda does not envision accession to NATO,"
Sargsyan said in an interview published in Kommersant on Friday.
"Armenia finds it beneficial to be a member of the CSTO [the Collective
Security Treaty Organization]," Sargsyan said. "We have built our
armed forces on the basis of the Soviet doctrine, and they are armed
with Soviet military hardware. Almost all the weapons we have today
are either Soviet or Russian," Sargsyan said. "All this needs to be
maintained, modernized, and replenished. The CSTO provides for such
a chance. We have privileged conditions for military-technological
cooperation there and are content with this," he said.
Talking about the settlement of the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh,
Sargsyan said, "The Azeri leadership is saying that the conflict could
be resolved in a military way. I believe that at least two people -
the supreme commander-in-chief and the defense minister - should
therefore presume that military actions could start even tomorrow."
"However, I do not consider this a proper way to resolve the
problem. We can settle everything in a peaceful way," he said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ARMENIA DOES NOT PLAN TO JOIN NATO - PRESIDENT
Interfax News Agency
June 27 2008
Russia
Armenia does not plan to join NATO, Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan said."We have always said and are saying now that Armenia's
foreign political agenda does not envision accession to NATO,"
Sargsyan said in an interview published in Kommersant on Friday.
"Armenia finds it beneficial to be a member of the CSTO [the Collective
Security Treaty Organization]," Sargsyan said. "We have built our
armed forces on the basis of the Soviet doctrine, and they are armed
with Soviet military hardware. Almost all the weapons we have today
are either Soviet or Russian," Sargsyan said. "All this needs to be
maintained, modernized, and replenished. The CSTO provides for such
a chance. We have privileged conditions for military-technological
cooperation there and are content with this," he said.
Talking about the settlement of the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh,
Sargsyan said, "The Azeri leadership is saying that the conflict could
be resolved in a military way. I believe that at least two people -
the supreme commander-in-chief and the defense minister - should
therefore presume that military actions could start even tomorrow."
"However, I do not consider this a proper way to resolve the
problem. We can settle everything in a peaceful way," he said.
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