Azernews.Az

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has said "no one wants war in the region" but Azerbaijan has the legal right, in accordance with the UN charter, to use any means available to defend itself, AzerTAj state news agency reported on Monday.
"The fact that we are in talks and adhere to a constructive position as well as our supporting the [OSCE] Minsk Group’s mediating efforts proves our intentions," President Aliyev said in an interview with Euronews while commenting on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict.
"But the war is not over yet. We support peaceful negotiations. At the same time, we must not forget that Armenia’s armed forces have invaded our territories. We’ve never had any territorial claims against anyone. Azerbaijan’s occupied territories and Upper Garabagh itself are our internationally recognized lands. And any development taking place there must be considered Azerbaijan’s internal affair, and not an international conflict," the president said.
Aliyev also said his country is much more powerful than Armenia in all respects.
"Our economy today is ten times bigger that Armenia’s. We can spend as much as we want, while Armenia spends only what it receives in foreign aid," the Azerbaijani leader said.
The president emphasized that there is no power balance between the two countries any more.
"Our military is much stronger. Azerbaijan’s budget is almost eight times bigger than that of Armenia. We have greater defense spending, and it is reality," Aliyev added.
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. The Minsk Group, co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France, is brokering peace talks.*