Azerbaijani President Tones Down Aggresssive Rhetoric

AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT TONES DOWN AGGRESSIVE RHETORIC

Armenpress
May 17 2007

BAKU, MAY 17, ARMENPRESS: Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev has toned
down his belligerent rhetoric saying today there was no alternative
to peaceful resolution of his country’s dispute with Armenia over
Nagorno-Karabakh.

Aliyev made the remarks during a meeting with residents of a quarter
in the capital city Baku. He was quoted by Azerbaijani media as saying
that was the reason of the ongoing negotiations with Armenia.

"The alternative to negotiations is war and Azerbaijan must be ready
for it," Aliyev said. He also cited economic growth rates, saying
his county is seeing a huge money inflow which will help boost armed
forces and the military resource in general.

"Azerbaijan will never agree to a peace plan that would damage its
national interests,’ Aliyev said.