Azerbaijan to regain Garabagh, former Armenian PM says
Former Armenian prime minister Vazgen Manukian has said the
occupied Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh region will be returned to
Azerbaijan in any case.
"The incumbent Armenian authorities will have to return Upper Garabagh regardless of whether they want this or not," he said, explaining this by the utmost weakening of President Robert Kocharian's regime.
The ex-premier said Azerbaijan has a number of advantages over Armenia, namely, its abundant oil resources, rampant economic development and the availability of "numerous influential friends".
He warned of the consequences of Armenia's failing to move forward. "If Armenia does not step on the path of democratization and civil society development, the consequences of this will be severe."
Manukian explained the under-developed state of his country's economy by the presence of monopolies in the domestic market.
He said that former Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrosian, who stands good chances to be elected at the country's 2008 presidential elections, is preparing to return Upper Garabagh to Azerbaijan, while "people standing by him are looking to complete the transfer process in a short time".
The former prime minister ruled out the possibility of the resumption of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Upper Garabagh is an Azeri region occupied by Armenia since a 1994 cease-fire ended separatist hostilities that killed an estimated 30,000 people and ousted about a million out of their homes. Years of peace talks brokered by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France have brought little tangible result.
"The incumbent Armenian authorities will have to return Upper Garabagh regardless of whether they want this or not," he said, explaining this by the utmost weakening of President Robert Kocharian's regime.
The ex-premier said Azerbaijan has a number of advantages over Armenia, namely, its abundant oil resources, rampant economic development and the availability of "numerous influential friends".
He warned of the consequences of Armenia's failing to move forward. "If Armenia does not step on the path of democratization and civil society development, the consequences of this will be severe."
Manukian explained the under-developed state of his country's economy by the presence of monopolies in the domestic market.
He said that former Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrosian, who stands good chances to be elected at the country's 2008 presidential elections, is preparing to return Upper Garabagh to Azerbaijan, while "people standing by him are looking to complete the transfer process in a short time".
The former prime minister ruled out the possibility of the resumption of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Upper Garabagh is an Azeri region occupied by Armenia since a 1994 cease-fire ended separatist hostilities that killed an estimated 30,000 people and ousted about a million out of their homes. Years of peace talks brokered by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France have brought little tangible result.
Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention.
Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis.
By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more.
Subscribe
You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper
Thank you!