Azerbaijan threatens force over Nagorno-Karabakh
(AP)
21/11/09
BAKU, Azerbaijan – President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan said Saturday
his nation may resort to military force if talks with Armenia on
resolving a long-standing territorial dispute produce no result.
Aliyev said he expects to hold talks next week with his Armenian
counterpart, Serge Sarkisian, on resolving the dispute over
Nagorno-Karabakh. "If that meeting fails to produce result, our hopes
for negotiations will vanish," Aliyev said during a meeting with
Azerbaijani refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh.
The mountainous region is an enclave in Azerbaijan that has been under
control of Armenian troops and ethnic Armenian forces since a 1994
cease-fire ended six years of war that killed about 30,000 people and
displaced 1 million. Diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute have
failed.
Aliyev said Azerbaijan wants a peaceful settlement, but won’t wait
indefinitely. "We have the right to free our land using military
force," he said.
There was no immediate comment from Armenia’s government.
Aliyev repeatedly has made similar threats in the past. His latest
statement could be aimed at encouraging Azerbaijanis, who are
concerned that Turkey’s move last month to normalize ties with Armenia
could ruin hopes for regaining control over Nagorno-Karabakh. Turkey
has assured its ally Azerbaijan that it would continue supporting it
in the dispute.