ARMENIAN DEFENCE MINISTER BACKS PEACE SOLUTION TO KARABAKH CONFLICT

Armenian Public TV
June 9 2008

[Presenter] Armenian Defence Minister Seyran Ohanyan held a news
conference to report on the process of reforms being carried out
at the defence sphere and future plans. According to the minister,
numerous servicemen and top officers, who are currently occupying
military positions in their departments, will be transferred to
special civilian service.

A new draft law on defence will be submitted to parliament this
year. Military equipment will be upgraded and a transition to the
contract-based military service will be developed. Ohanyan also touched
on the conflicting statements made by the Azerbaijani leadership saying
that [Azerbaijani President] Ilham Aliyev states that the [Karabakh]
issue will be resolved peacefully while the defence minister is making
belligerent statements.

[Ohanyan] I think that a solution to the Karabakh conflict through
a military way was already resolved at that time. Efforts should be
made to peacefully solve the Karabakh conflict because negotiations
are currently based on the peace principles. I think that the recent
meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents showed
that they are ready to continue negotiations based on the existing
principles.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress