DROUGHT IS RETREATING
A1+
[01:32 pm] 30 June, 2006
The regional department of the Gegharqounik region of "ArmHydroMet"
informs that the rains of the last few days have restored the relative
humidity of the air which is necessary for the flora and the fauna.
Although the drought in the region had its negative impact on
agriculture, agronomists assess the precipitations as effective for
the crop and for preventing epidemics in cattle.
TV Company "Qyavar", Gavar
ARMENIA SPEAKER ACCUSES AZERBAIJAN OF ABUSING POSITION AT PACE
Today, Azerbaijan
June 29 2006
Armenia’s parliamentary speaker accused Azerbaijan of using the
rostrum of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to
insult Armenia, the parliament’s press department said Thursday.
Tigran Torosyan told PACE Secretary General Terry Davis in Strasbourg
Wednesday: "The PACE session in Strasbourg is highly important
for joint discussion of issues linked with the fulfillment of the
countries’ obligations, while Azerbaijan is using the PACE rostrum
to insult and slander Armenia."
According to RIA Novosti, Torosyan said Azerbaijani delegates had
accused Armenia of starting forest fires in troubled Nagorno Karabakh,
a region in Azerbaijan with a largely ethnic Armenian population,
and occupied territories.
He said "Nagorno Karabakh" had asked the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe, the world’s largest regional security body,
two weeks ago to monitor the situation and prove the accusations false.
Torosyan also said that in this situation the Armenian delegation
could not abstain from reciprocal statements. He said false insults
and accusations were unworthy of the Council of Europe’s principles,
and proposed taking steps to resolve the situation.
URL:
RA NATURE PROTECTION MINISTRY EXPECTS EXPLANATIONS FROM GLOBAL GOLD MINING
Noyan Tapan
Jun 28 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 28, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Ministry of Nature Protection
expects some explanations from Global Gold Mining (GGM) company
regarding the concessional payment for Getik area. Head of the Earth’s
entrails protection department of the ministry Hamlet Avetisian told
NT correspondent that this payment has not been mentioned in the
documents submitted by GGM, so they asked the company to provide
explanations. Otherwise, it is not ruled out that the issue of
depriving GGM of its licence will be discused.
However, according to the GGM’s press service, the company has not
received any written inquiry from the ministry. Besides, according to
the same source, 13 mln 557 thousand drams (about 32 thousand USD) was
paid as concessional payment, and 375 thousand drams as environmental
protection payment.
To recap, in 2005, GGM purchased shares of Atelia Investment company,
which was conducting an exploration of Getik area, and thus became
a 80% owner of Getik Mining Company.
SERGE SARGSYAN, "IT WOULD BE WISE TO MAKE ALL THE DOCUMENTS PUBLIC"
A1+
[03:10 pm] 29 June, 2006
"Bryza had better make the documents adopted during the Qui West
negotiation and after it public instead of his own interpretation,"
Serge Sargsyan, RA Defense Minister told the journalists today while
commenting on OSCE Minsk group newly appointed American Co-Chair
Mettew Bryza’s "discoveries."
"There is some misunderstanding here. The OSCE Minsk group
Co-Chairs call on the sides not to make the documents public to
avoid emotional outcome whereas they do the contrary themselves,"
noted Serge Sargsyan. He announced that the conflict settlement is
the two presidents’ priority and the Co-Chairs will accept whatever
the two presidents decided.
According to the Defense Minister the publication of the Karabakh
conflict negotiation details will not lead to the war relaunch. "I
don’t thing that the current situation can lead to any war. There
are no preconditions for war."
AGREEMENT ON DEMARCATION OF THE ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN BORDER TO BE READY BY THE END OF 2006
ArmRadio.am
28.06.2006 16:53
Presidnets of Armenia and Georgia may recive the draft agreement on
demarcation of the Armenian-Georgian state border by the end of 2006,
Geogian Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili declared on June 27 after
the meeting with the Foreign Minister of Armenian Vardan Oskanyan.
"Our objective is to complete the draft agreement on demarcation
of the Armenian-Georgian state border by the end of 2006, " the
Minister declared.
In his words, the State Commission for Border Demarcation has been
working effectively.
PRESS RELEASE
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
Contact: Information Desk
Tel: (374-10) 52-35-31
Email: [email protected]
Web:
Oskanian Expresses Armenia’s Government Sympathy and Condolences to the
Russian people and the Russian government
During a press conference with Georgian Foreign Minister Gela Bezuashvili in
Tbilisi, on June 27, the first day of his working visit to Georgia, Minister
Oskanian expressed the sympathy of the Armenian government and the Armenian
people on the murder of four Russian diplomats in Iraq. He expressed his
condolences to the government of the Russian Federation and the Russian
people.
—
AT THE EXPENSE OF KURDS: BUILDING A NEW ERA IN U.S.-TURKEY RELATIONS
By Sosun Welat
Kurdish Media, UK
June 25 2006
Every so often, we see an article here and there about the relationship
between the US and Turkey. In most of these articles regardless where
it comes from whether it is from liberals or conservatives they all
point to the alarming deterioration of situation between the two
countries. In addition, they all make the point that the course must
be changed; Turkey must be courted and appeased. They further defend
the point that Turkey is needed in the fight against terrorism as
gateway to spread America’s message to the rest of Islamic World.
Furthermore having a democratic Islamic Turkey in the western bloc is
a proof that an Islamic country able to adapt western democracy and
its values. Moreover, they all emphasize that Turkey can join the EU
only and only at the expense of all Kurds. These ideas are floating
around from Rand Corporation to Brooking Institute and from editorial
pages of NY Times to Washington Post and all other influential think
tanks and media outlets.
None of these analysts, specialists, writers and all others can see
the dynamics of change set in motion in the entire world specifically
in the Middle East right after the collapse of old Soviet Union. They
cannot understand that the good old days are gone and "The New World
Order" as paraphrased by the elder President Bush is taking place
with more liberty and justice for the oppressed.
They cannot win back Turkey by just clipping the wings of Southern
Kurds and preventing Kirkuk to be in Kurds control, because Turks
have more ambitions, such as uniting all Turks from Edirne to all
other Turkic republics such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan,
Azerbaijan and recover all Arab and Greek lands, islands lost during
the First World War I. Recent provocations of Turkish Air Forces and
Greek Air Forces in the Aegean air space just a reminder to these
facts. This is clearly against the America’s and EU interests. They
cannot understand that the status quo cannot go on as did during the
cold war era by helping Turkey of denying Kurdish national rights for
over 70 years. The biggest danger to Turkey is not PKK presence in
Qandil Mountains. The biggest problem to Turkey’s stability is its
denial of other nations within and outside its borders.
In addition, its policies of forceful Turkification of cultures,
languages, nations; its denial of Kurdish rights; its denial of its
own history by denying Armenian, Kurdish, and Assyrians massacres;
its denial of eliminating Greeks from western Anatolia.
Furthermore Turkey cannot see the point that the Turkish national
aspirations and interests are in collision course with the national
interests of United States, whilst the national interests of Kurds are
in tandem with the interests of United States. No matter what they can
do or suggest America cannot win back Turkey as trusted ally. On the
other hand, the relationship between America and Turkey will worsen
as stability and prosperity will take hold in Iraq particularly in
Southern Kurdistan.
Contrary to their suggestion, Turkey was never a democratic and never
will be. Turkey was not established on the basis of law and justice;
it was established on the basis of deceit and theft. Therefor it is
an illegal state. It promised Kurds and other Anatolian peoples a
motherland based on equality and Justice. Turkish National Assembly
in early 1920, there were more than over 30 Kurdish and other ethnic
Members of Parliament. After The Lausanne Treaty was signed all Kurdish
MP were eliminated by assassinations, exiles and imprisonment. One
of those MP requested in his will to be buried at one of crossroads
anywhere in Kurdistan so that passers-by can spit on his grave because
he realized that he betrayed his Kurdish nation by supporting Mustafa
Kemal in his negotiations in Lausanne during the negotiations in
early 1920. All Kurdish MP supported Kemal with understanding and
promise from him that Anatolia was going to be homeland for Kurds
and Turks. However, he retracted on his promises once the treaty was
signed. He started the elimination of all patriotic MPs and suppression
of Kurdish culture, language and severe persecution of Kurdish people.
Turkey has an identity problem. First, it was established by bunch of
losers of Ottoman Generals who run away from the Front Lines of war
with Allied Forces of World War I. They forced on Anatolian people
Turkish ideology, which was not in existence except among "Young Turks
"or "Jon Turks".
They are not democratic because they are not tolerant to other
ethnic and religious minorities. Up to early 1980 before PKK was
born, Alawi of Anatolia were severely persecuted. As I remember in
my early childhood, our rituals were held with fear of being busted
by the Gendarme of the state. When the Seid (Pir) was visiting our
village and holding a Ciwat (Mass) on one of our holiest days (Xizir
celebrations) some of the older kids had to be on watch out on the
rooftops to watch if any Gendarme regiment were coming toward the
village so that we could have early warning system. During my studies
through middle school to college in various cities in Turkey, I had
to hide my identity and face many slurs, curses, and insults thrown
on many different occasions as part of normal conversation without
any provocation. Only after PKK was born the Alawis were courted in
order to win them back to prevent the Kurdish Alawis to join Kurdish
national movement.
Up to 1980 Kurdish Alawi are seen as threat to the state due to first
Kurdish national uprising was in early 1920 in Kochgiri region of
Northern Kurdistan and then the 1937 Dersim uprising.
Even today, religious liberties do not exist in Turkey. The problems
with Greek Orthodox Church are widely known. There is no way any
Christian missionary can start a work in Turkey. Even previous
Christian churches are either demolished or converted to mosques
as the way the Ottomans Ayah Sofia Church to a mosque. Even today,
a Christian and Jewish or any other non-Muslim citizen cannot become
a judge, a general, a police officer or any other public servant.
It is not a democratic country because it is banning a language of
over 25 million of its own people, whilst even during the apartheid
era of South Africa the black people could spoke their own language.
It is not democratic country because it is denying all other Anatolian
peoples their existence (The Hurriyet Newspaper’s motto says it all
"Turkey Belongs to Turks") and forcing them to be Turks.
It is not democratic because it is trying to reshape entire Anatolia’s
cities, towns, villages and hamlets by force.
In short, they are suggesting to get rid of PKK, will give Turkey what
it wants and things will be as good as before. However, they fail to
recognize that PKK’s presence is more obstacles to Kurdish national
movement than to Turkey. To true Kurdish patriots PKK is obsolete. Its
demise will unleash the very natural desire of self-determination of
Kurdistan among all Kurds.
They fail to recognize that Turkey’s problems do not stem from under
development of East and South East but failing to recognize the
national rights of Kurdish people. A democratic country would have
done it long time ago. PKK is not Turkey’s problem. It is the product
of Turkey’s policies. It cannot complain to America or EU about it,
Turkey must put its house in order if wants better days ahead.
They fail to recognize that it is not Turkish friendship that America
needs anymore, it is The Kurds that America needs in the New World
Order. Under new socio-economic and political map, Kurds hold the
balancing power. They will rise to the situation as they did by
saving Jerusalem from destruction under the leadership of The Saladin,
the Great.
However, this time for their own National rights not for being the
soldier of Islam or any other religion.
In such hostile region, specifically in Iraq, Kurds have proven to
be reliable allies. Kurds of Southern Kurdistan are proving to Turks,
Arabs, Persians and to the rest of world that can govern by embracing,
pluralism, market economy and multi -culturalism, ethnicities and
religions. By ignoring their basic natural rights and denying, those to
their lands will lead to more catastrophic uncontrollable situations.
Do not trust unreliable Turks on the expense of reliable Kurds.
ARMENIA READY FOR RELATIONS WITH TURKEY WITHOUT PRECONDITIONS
Arka News Agency, Armenia
June 26 2006
Yerevan, June 26. /ARKA/. Armenia is ready to establish diplomatic
relations with Turkey without any preconditions, RA Presidential
Spokesman Victor Soghomonyan told ARKA, commenting on an interview
give by the American Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Mathew Bryza
to the Liberty Radio.
Armenia has repeatedly stated this, Soghomonyan said. He pointed out
that, by stating that the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement will contribute
to the establishment of Armenian-Turkish relations, Bryza expressed
his point of view.
Still earlier, Matthew Bryza stated that Armenia and turkey were
ready for the establishment of normal relations. He pointed out that
the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict would contribute to
this process.
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
June 23 2006
THE AZERBAIJANI ARMY CREATED BY NATIONAL LEADER HEYDAR ALIYEV, IS
CAPABLE TO SOLVE ALL PROBLEMS FACING IT
SPEECH OF PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN, SUPREME COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ILHAM
ALIYEV AT GRADUATION CEREMONY AT HEYDAR ALIYEV HIGH MILITARY SCHOOL
[June 23, 2006, 20:37:24]
Dear cadets, officers and generals!
Dear graduates!
Ladies and Gentlemen!
I cordially congratulate you and wish every success on the coming Day
of Armed Forces. Moreover, today is a graduation day at the
Azerbaijan High Military School bearing the name of Heydar Aliyev,
and I congratulate the graduates on this wonderful occasion. I am
confident that the graduates will serve honorably in the ranks of the
Azerbaijan~Rs Army.
The fact that the School bears the name of the great leader Heydar
Aliyev puts additional responsibility on those who study in it. The
great leader has made great contribution to army building in
Azerbaijan. It is the alumni of the military school after
Nakhchivanski founded in 1970s that today are honorably and worthily
serving the National Army of Azerbaijan, and strengthen our military
potential. The process of army building was continued more rapidly
under the leadership of Heydar Aliyev after Azerbaijan regained its
state independence. If to take into account that in the first years
of independence there was no a single command in the army, one can
see how severe were the conditions under which the process of army
building was going then. On the one hand, there were various negative
factors – economic, political and military crisis, and internal
confrontation – within the country, on the other hand Armenian
Aggression against Azerbaijan and loss of lands as a result: in such
a situation, the army building process, as a matter of fact, started
from nothing.
However, it took a short period of time to build a powerful Army in
Azerbaijan, which today is capable to cope with any task. Our army
has stronger material and technical basis, and more qualified
manpower. Of course, great attention is paid to training of military
personnel. In this context, improvement of activities of the High
Military School is of great importance. For already several years
this School has sent its alumni to the Army thereby contributing to
our army~Rs strength.
Today great attention is paid to the army building. You feel it, and
the society feels that. Strengthening of army concerns every citizen,
it is duty of everybody. First of all, the state should not spare
attention. We try to develop all the processes in army building. In
strengthening of the material-technical base of army increase of
allotted means from the state budget is necessary and we do that. In
the last three years, the military expenses have increased by 4
times. In 2003, the expenses allotted for army building made up 135
million dollars, while in 2006 these expenses are about 700 million
dollars, and in the coming years we shall increase them. In last
years, a lot was done in strengthening of material-technical base of
army, many technics and equipment, modern weapons purchased. And,
thus, the Army of Azerbaijan has strengthened much. This process will
be continued. Azerbaijan lives in war conditions and in this case, at
first, the army building should be paid more attention.
I often visit the military units, familiarize with the state of
things, meet the soldiers and I see the preparation is high level. It
pleases much. The army should have nice condition, best service, at
the same time, professionalism and fighting spirit. All these are
available, ether. And education of youth in high patriotic sense is
also important.
There are number of factors that defines success and development of
each country. These factors are available and in Azerbaijan. I
consider strong economy, good welfare of people, strengthening of our
sovereignty and existence of strong army will have great influence on
Azerbaijan~Rs development. Now the country is in progress. This
progress is available in all fields and perhaps, it bases on strong
economic reforms, successful oil strategy. Initiator of the oil
strategy was our great leader Heydar Aliyev. Signing of the ~SContract
of the Century~T in 1994 on his initiative and as a result of
development of the oil projects later, today Azerbaijan economically
depends on nobody. Azerbaijan lives the period of economic progress
and this policy, the taken measures define our country~Rs long-term
development strategy.
Operation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline is historical
event. This is an unprecedented event for our people, country, and
region, for strengthening of safety measures in region, for regional
cooperation, for Azerbaijan~Rs strong position in the world community.
Great leader Heydar Aliyev has initiated these projects. By operation
of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline the development will envelope
all the fields in Azerbaijan.
Our economy strengthens. Last year, the economic growth reached the
highest level in the world and made up 26 percent. In five months of
current year, the GDP averaged 40 percent. In future, by realization
of all the economic programs, we shall have greater achievements.
This strengthens is our economy, involves additional financial
recourses to the country, and thus, our opportunities increase. Our
budget now nears 5 billion dollars. Total budget is bigger. State
budget of Azerbaijan has increased several times in the last years.
This enables us to resolve all the questions. First of all, in the
army building. In absence of these economic opportunities, we would
not be able to allot such a big amount to the army. In future, our
budget will increase much more. And thus, the army will receive much
more allotment.
At the same time, we pay great attention to solution of the social
problems. As you know, the wages are increased twice in a year, the
minimum wages, and the wages of different categories of people are
increased. Yesterday I have signed a Decree on increase of wages of
the servicemen twice. In whole, on the last three years, the wages of
servicemen have been increased three times. I consider that it is,
too, not enough. By increase of our economic opportunities, of
course, we shall pay more attention to the wages, and not only of the
servicemen, but also all the people of numerous categories.
Great structural and construction works are being carried out in
Azerbaijan. Large project of great importance for the country~Rs
future are underway. Now, 6 power stations are under construction to
strengthen energy sector of Azerbaijan. A new water pipeline is being
laid to Baku. The gas mains are renewed. Only during the last year,
over 300 schools have been built in the country. More than 10 modern
hospitals are under construction as well. Yesterday I attended
opening of the surgery of military hospital and I was deeply pleased
with such a medical institution in Azerbaijan. This means progress.
That means successful economic reforms, and growth of industrial
production.
All our oil programs are being successfully implemented. I said that
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline has been commissioned.
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline is scheduled to be put into
operation by the end of the year. It will bring additional revenues
to Azerbaijan and, at the same time, serve strengthening of our
position in the region.
Azerbaijan strengthens its position in the international arena. We
are members of some international organizations and began to play
more active role in them. International image, prestige of Azerbaijan
and respect for us are increasing and it is a reality. Today,
Azerbaijan, in the true sense of the word, is the country that has
the firmest positions in the region. Of course, there are various
factors stipulating this. Among them are economic potential and the
strength of the army. We know the history very well and learn the
experience of the successful countries. Strong army is the strong
state. Our aim is to build the strong army. We do this, we build it
and we must have the stronger army.
I want to point out that we have programs to solve the problems that
Azerbaijan faces. We have many efficient programs of actions. As you
know, the program on socio-economic development of regions is being
successfully implemented. 400 thousand new jobs have been created for
the past three years. Settlement of social problems of the
settlements surrounding Baku has begun with much money set aside for
this. Very large amount of funds are allocated to the road
infrastructure. Much work is being done in Baku, all the centers of
regions, villages including the repair of the trunk highways.
In one word, our country is developing. I have no doubt that we will
fulfill all the tasks that Azerbaijan faces. The successful results
as well as the work we have done give us every reason to say about
it. We have prepared concrete and precise programs for every sphere
and they are being implemented.
Resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is
the problem number one for Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, there is no
progress in this sphere. Indeed, the talks are going on; the talks
are being held within some framework. However, they are all not
effective because we cannot achieve any results. The position of
Azerbaijan has always been constructive. We have been committed to
the negotiations for over ten years and it demonstrates our
constructivism. Although, our lands are under occupation and over 1
million Azerbaijan became refugees and IDPs as a result of the policy
of ethnic cleansing that Armenia pursues against Azerbaijan,
nevertheless, we are trying to use all the available peace
opportunities. Therefore, Azerbaijan~Rs stance in the negotiations is
very constructive. Unfortunately, Armenia~Rs non-constructive stance
does not allow us to resolve this conflict.
We are committed to the international legal standards. This conflict
and all other international issues should be settled only within some
framework. This problem cannot be solved in accordance with anybody~Rs
desire, in particular, if this desire does not reflect the reality
and is beyond the framework of the international law. International
law applies to all countries. If international rules, norms of
behavior, decisions of international organizations are not observed
and the decisions do not result in taking measures, then, it will
break all international rules of behavior since the world is governed
in accordance with some rules. All countries are members of the
United Nations and UN is the world~Rs major organization. This
organization has adopted four resolutions on the Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict, which openly state that armed occupation forces should
unconditionally leave the occupied territories. Unfortunately,
Armenia disregards this and does not comply with these resolutions.
Other international organizations expressed their attitude to this
matter by their decisions and documents. The Council of Europe has
adopted the resolution that recognizes Armenia as an aggressor.
However, this resolution remained ineffectual. GUAM has recently made
a statement concerning the frozen conflicts. It does not affect
Armenia. The summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization held in
Azerbaijan adopted the relevant resolution, which remains
unfulfilled. Quite important decisions on this matter were made at
the session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers. However,
Armenia disregards the decisions of all international organizations.
In this case, we no longer count on international mechanisms of
settlement. If the decisions, resolutions of the international
organizations reflecting reality, justice and international legal
standards are not complied with, what we should do then?! We will
never put up with this situation, loss of our lands. We will never
allow Nagorno-Karabakh to be separated from Azerbaijan it is not the
subject of negotiations. Territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is
recognized all over the world. The United Nations recognized it. The
world considers Nagorno-Karabakh as an integral part of Azerbaijan
and it is really so from historical, political, legal and other
points of view.
Therefore, the subject of negotiations must be connected to restoring
of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. It is necessary to ensure
security of all peoples residing in the region. No agreement beyond
this is impossible.
And I reiterate that we highly appraise the efforts of international
community, their decisions. We value activity of the OSCE Minsk
Group. Indeed, they try to reach agreement. But non-constructive
position of Armenia, ignorance of the international legal norms
impedes to achieve any agreement. In this case, Azerbaijan should
make corrections in it policy. How long shall we participate in
negotiations? How long shall we expect? Our patience is not endless!
Today Azerbaijan is quickly developing country. Armenia, neither from
the point of view of economy, nor military, cannot compete with us.
Our dominance is a reality. We are still in the beginning of our
development. Let they think over and over in Armenia, after a year,
or three and five, where Azerbaijan and Armenia will be. Armenia has
no chance to develop. They are on the sidelines of all the
international projects. They have little economic growth chances.
Half of the country~Rs population has moved. As provided, they have
difficulty in guarding the contact line. There is lack of living
forces. On the other hand, there is economically strengthening
Azerbaijan with strong army, and politically becoming the center of
region and out economic opportunities.
Recently I have recollected some figures. I reiterate, that according
to estimations of the international financial structures, in the
coming 20 years, only from oil projects Azerbaijan will receive 140
billion dollars. Nagorno Karabakh is our first number problem and I
see no problem for Azerbaijan except this one.
Perhaps, we should use these opportunities ands strengthen our army,
so that in any case it could return our occupied lands. I have no
doubt and hope that our policy will lead to this.
Simply, it is regretful that the time passes, and Armenia gets
nothing by delaying solution of the problem. The time does not work
for them, and on the contrary, it works in our favor.
We, in the country, should use every opportunity. Now we have very
good conditions economic growth, political stability, civil
solidarity, unity between power and people, cohesion, strengthening
of civil society, success of democratization process, strengthening
or our position in region, effective cooperation with the
international organizations and leader position in region. That is
out goal, and that is our present life. And the most important is
that we see the future clearly, what expects us in the coming years.
We know that Azerbaijan in short time should be among the most
developed countries. We have chance, political will, unity of nation,
its talent, and we shall reach this.
Azerbaijan will never reconcile with isolation of Karabakh, and it
will – by peaceful way and military – restore its territorial
integrity.
There is another matter. As you know, recently we have set up the
Ministry of Defense Industry. Of course, should we be not in war
conditions, we would not need this Ministry. And if the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict cannot find its solution, we decided to set up a
strong military industrial complex, and we make necessary steps in
this direction. I hope in short time Azerbaijan will have strong
military industry and this, in turn, have great contributions to
army.
Dear friends,
Dear servicemen,
I cordially congratulate you on the forthcoming Day of Armed Forces.
I congratulate the alumni. Having graduated form the higher school,
they will worthily serve in the national Army of Azerbaijan and
strengthen Azerbaijan~Rs defense ability. Thank you.
Baku Today, Azerbaijan
June 23 2006
Talks ‘hopeless’ and Azerbaijan ready for war with Armenia:
23/06/2006 19:23
International mediation over the disputed Nagorno Karabakh enclave
is "hopeless," oil-rich Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said,
vowing to retake it by "peaceful means or by war," in a speech to
the military on Friday.
Aliyev, who’s country fought its neighbour and fellow former Soviet
republic Armenia over control of the majority-Armenian enclave in
Azerbaijani territory from 1988 to 1994, also said he would use oil
revenues to beef up the military.
Oil will bring Azerbaijan 140 billion dollars over the next two
decades, Aliyev said and "there is no doubt we will use this money
to strengthen the army so that it can return our lands at any moment."
The president said international efforts to mediate the conflict were
"hopeless" and Azerbaijan was willing only to negotiate the restoration
of its full control over Karabakh.
Aliyev was speaking at a graduation ceremony of cadets at Azerbaijan’s
highest military academy, named in honor of his father Heydar Aliyev
whom the younger Aliyev succeeded as president in 2003.
Azerbaijan’s first major oil pipeline, which is operated by energy
giant BP and is backed by the United States, goes online on July 13
and will give the landlocked Caspian Sea an important export route
to Western markets.
In his speech, which was followed by a military parade with the
participation of troops, Russian-built helicopters and fighter jets,
Aliyev said "we will restore our territorial integrity by peaceful
means or by war."
Military spending in this predominantly Shiite Muslim country of
eight million has quadrupled to 700 million dollars in 2006 over
the past four years Aliyev said, adding that on Thursday he ordered
servicemen’s wages to be increased by 100 percent.
"We are buying modern armaments," Aliyev said without elaborating,
"our expenses in the military sphere will grow even more," he added.
Karabakh broke away from Azerbaijan in the late 1980s, sparking a
six-year conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan that claimed 25,000
lives and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
Despite a 1994 ceasefire, tensions remain high in the mountainous
region — one of the world’s most militarized zones.