Aliyev: Armenia dragging out time in peace talks
Armenia, inspired by its improved relations with
Turkey, is using the tactic of dragging out time in talks on
settling the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict, Azerbaijan`s
state-run Azertag news agency quoted President Ilham Aliyev as
saying at a cabinet meeting on Friday.
Aliyev said an agreement had been reached during the initial stages of peace talks on a pullout of Armenian armed forces from the occupied Azerbaijani districts around Upper Garabagh. ``Now, however, Armenia is raising this issue as a new topic.``
Further, presumably referring to Turkey and Armenia`s talks on normalizing their strained relations, Aliyev said: ``Possibly, the latest ongoing developments in the region have somewhat inspired Armenia. They may be thinking now that their living in isolation for many years is about to end. But I don`t share these views.``
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law. Peace talks have been fruitless so far and refugees remain stranded.
The president said that granting independence to the separatist entity operating in Upper Garabagh cannot be negotiated ``either now or in 100 years.``
Aliyev added that occupied Azerbaijani territories must be freed from invaders and that Azerbaijanis displaced during the armed conflict in the early 1990s must be returned to their homes, including those in Upper Garabagh.
``Their return to Upper Garabagh is part of the negotiating process. Afterwards, a mission of the peacekeeping forces will be carried out, we do not object to this. Further, an interim status may be granted to Upper Garabagh. This, however, does not mean independence. And, in further talks, the two sides - Azerbaijan and Armenia - will continue negotiating its future status.``
Aliyev said his country`s expanding role in the region and the world will never allow Armenia to extricate itself from its isolated condition.
``Armenia`s isolation happened as a result of the actions by its own leaders. If Azerbaijani territories are freed from occupation, we agree to open up all communications,`` he said.
Armenia remains prohibited from participating in regional projects due to its policy of aggression against Azerbaijan and only has a rail link with Georgia.
Further, President Aliyev said that Baku has no intention to back down from its position of principle. ``Azerbaijan will wage a struggle for its national interests till the end, because this is a struggle for justice.``
The president said Baku is seeking to change the regional status quo, as ``it resulted in the occupation of Azerbaijani territories for nearly 20 years. ``But if this status quo changes at the expense of Azerbaijan`s interests, we will not let this happen.`` Aliyev said no issues - dealing with politics, diplomacy, economics or energy - can be resolved in the region without Azerbaijan`s involvement.
Inaugurating a residential building on Thursday for World War II veterans, those disabled during the Garabagh war and families of war victims, to be located in the Hovsan settlement outside Baku, Aliyev issued a warning to Armenia, saying the war with this country has not yet ended. He noted that only the first stage of the war has been concluded, and Azerbaijan should remain ready to liberate its territories at any time.
Aliyev, the commander-in-chief, pointed to the country`s military power.
``The Azerbaijani army is the most powerful in the region today. If we had such a powerful military in the late 1980s-early 1990s, Azerbaijani land would never have been occupied. But what can we do? The people that were in the Azerbaijani leadership at the time, having made big mistakes, actually provided conditions for the occupation of Upper Garabagh.``
Aliyev said an agreement had been reached during the initial stages of peace talks on a pullout of Armenian armed forces from the occupied Azerbaijani districts around Upper Garabagh. ``Now, however, Armenia is raising this issue as a new topic.``
Further, presumably referring to Turkey and Armenia`s talks on normalizing their strained relations, Aliyev said: ``Possibly, the latest ongoing developments in the region have somewhat inspired Armenia. They may be thinking now that their living in isolation for many years is about to end. But I don`t share these views.``
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law. Peace talks have been fruitless so far and refugees remain stranded.
The president said that granting independence to the separatist entity operating in Upper Garabagh cannot be negotiated ``either now or in 100 years.``
Aliyev added that occupied Azerbaijani territories must be freed from invaders and that Azerbaijanis displaced during the armed conflict in the early 1990s must be returned to their homes, including those in Upper Garabagh.
``Their return to Upper Garabagh is part of the negotiating process. Afterwards, a mission of the peacekeeping forces will be carried out, we do not object to this. Further, an interim status may be granted to Upper Garabagh. This, however, does not mean independence. And, in further talks, the two sides - Azerbaijan and Armenia - will continue negotiating its future status.``
Aliyev said his country`s expanding role in the region and the world will never allow Armenia to extricate itself from its isolated condition.
``Armenia`s isolation happened as a result of the actions by its own leaders. If Azerbaijani territories are freed from occupation, we agree to open up all communications,`` he said.
Armenia remains prohibited from participating in regional projects due to its policy of aggression against Azerbaijan and only has a rail link with Georgia.
Further, President Aliyev said that Baku has no intention to back down from its position of principle. ``Azerbaijan will wage a struggle for its national interests till the end, because this is a struggle for justice.``
The president said Baku is seeking to change the regional status quo, as ``it resulted in the occupation of Azerbaijani territories for nearly 20 years. ``But if this status quo changes at the expense of Azerbaijan`s interests, we will not let this happen.`` Aliyev said no issues - dealing with politics, diplomacy, economics or energy - can be resolved in the region without Azerbaijan`s involvement.
Inaugurating a residential building on Thursday for World War II veterans, those disabled during the Garabagh war and families of war victims, to be located in the Hovsan settlement outside Baku, Aliyev issued a warning to Armenia, saying the war with this country has not yet ended. He noted that only the first stage of the war has been concluded, and Azerbaijan should remain ready to liberate its territories at any time.
Aliyev, the commander-in-chief, pointed to the country`s military power.
``The Azerbaijani army is the most powerful in the region today. If we had such a powerful military in the late 1980s-early 1990s, Azerbaijani land would never have been occupied. But what can we do? The people that were in the Azerbaijani leadership at the time, having made big mistakes, actually provided conditions for the occupation of Upper Garabagh.``
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