Azeri officials dismiss separatist leader’s remarks on 2004 results
Ekho, Baku
30 Dec 04
Azerbaijani officials have dismissed the remarks of the Karabakh
separatist leader about the region’s economic progress and military
might in 2004. During his television appearance, the separatist leader
of Nagornyy Karabakh, Arkadiy Gukasyan, praised the region’s economic
performance and military might, promising to increase social spending
in 2005. A spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said that
2004 did not bring anything good to Nagornyy Karabakh, while a member
of parliament pointed out that most of Karabakh’s budget depends on
foreign money. In turn, a spokesman for the Azerbaijani Defence
Ministry described Gukasyan’s remarks about the Karabakh army as
“self-delusion”. The following is the text of R. Tofiqoglu’s report by
Azerbaijani newspaper Ekho on 30 December headlined “Arkadiy Gukasyan
is threatening Azerbaijan with a war” and subheaded “He made this
statement during his New Year congratulations to the residents of the
‘NKR’. In Azerbaijan, his remarks are being described as
absurd”. Subheadings have been inserted editorially:
Separatist leader praises results of 2004
Speaking on TV in connection with the end of 2004 on 29 December, “the
president of Nagornyy Karabakh”, Arkadiy Gukasyan, wished “the people
of Artsakh [Nagornyy Karabakh], first of all, peace” in 2005.
“This year was successful for the country in all respects. We were not
affected by political or social turmoil. Thanks to the reforms
conducted, we can see a steady tendency of growth and an increase in
the volume of production. Economic growth has started to fulfil its
main task: ensuring a gradual improvement in the welfare of people and
rectifying their social situation. The government managed this year to
increase the public sector wages and raise assistance to the most
needy part of the population – first of all, to the families of
liberator warriors who died or went missing, to the disabled, to the
war veterans and to the families that have many children. Beginning
from 2005, the state will provide housing for needy families. The
amount of pensions and other social payments will steadily go up. The
wages of those employed in health, education, culture and sports will
also be increased.”
“It is clear that Gukasyan is trying to hide the true state of affairs
with these words,” the head of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s
press centre, Matin Mirza, has told Ekho newspaper. “In fact, 2004 did
not bring anything good to the separatist regime or to the scarce
population of the occupied territories. They see that strength and
justice are on Azerbaijan’s side and with every month that passes,
this becomes clearer for the international community as well. This is
a confirmation of the success of Azerbaijani diplomacy. We see that
Yerevan’s efforts to lure new settlers into the occupied territories
by offering some discounts have failed. All these words are just a
‘show’ and an attempt to play a trick on the uninformed population of
the occupied territories.”
In his statement, Gukasyan went on to say the following: “I especially
want to note that the 2005 state budget envisages a 30-per-cent
increase in social spending. The foundations were laid in 2004 for the
speedy construction of the North-South highway which is of strategic
significance to Armenia in terms of reinforcing its military, economic
and social security.”
In response to this, Sattar Safarov, head of the economic committee of
the Milli Maclis [Azerbaijan’s parliament], said that even if the
revenues are rising in the “NKR”, it happens not because of local
production, but because of Gukasyan’s yearly visits to
Armenian-populated areas in the USA. He regularly cries there,
complains about Azerbaijan’s persecution and gathers millions of
dollars.”
An army funded by diaspora and Washington
Incidentally, America is also to blame for this, Safarov said. “I
personally told officials in the State Department that they are
conducting a two-faced policy. The entire revenue part of the ‘NKR’
budget is 12m dollars (thanks to the contributions of the diaspora),
whereas the army that defends them requires 24-25m dollars every year
for maintenance. Still, the USA presents in various ways some 12m
dollars to the ‘NKR’ every year. Thus, half of the money for the army
is given by overseas Armenians and the other half comes from
Washington.”
“Over the past year, our army has become even stronger and more
prepared for military operations. The problems of the NKR’s defence
army, including the social ones, have been and will be in the focus of
the state. The might of our army allows us to conduct a successful
foreign policy to defend the interests of Artsakh and its people in
the international arena. I assure you that any efforts by Azerbaijan
to upset the peaceful rhythm of our people will be duly repelled by
the NKR’s defence army,” the “president of the NKR” concluded.
The head of the [Azerbaijani] Defence Ministry’s press service, Ramiz
Malikov, described this part of Gukasyan’s statement as “an attempt to
pull the wool over people’s eyes”. “This is self-delusion, the NKR
does not have any foreign policy and they do not even have an
army. Even Armenia itself still does not dare to recognize the
‘NKR’. All this only pursues the objective of deceiving the people.”
In turn, Elxan Mammadov, an expert in conflict studies, said that
Gukasyan does have some grounds for such absurd remarks. “He is
actually in control of the situation in the territory. He receives
sums that are huge for Karabakh from Yerevan and from abroad. The
diaspora gathers some 10m dollars every year for Gukasyan to maintain
the army and buy weapons. Gukasyan simply feels no threat from
Azerbaijan and Baku is not doing anything to make him feel threatened
or at least uncomfortable. Hence, he keeps making such ‘good’
statements.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress