Agence France Presse — English
July 21, 2004 Wednesday 5:51 AM Eastern Time
No compromises on Karabakh: Azerbaijan’s president
KHUDAT DISTRICT, Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan will make no compromises in its negotiations with Armenia
over the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, President Ilham Aliyev
said Wednesday.
The statement appeared to mark a hardening of Azerbaijan’s stance
over the conflict, which remains unresolved after a war in the early
1990s that displaced a million civilians and left some 35,000 people
dead.
“We cannot react positively to calls on us to make compromises. On
questions of our territorial integrity we will never make any
compromises,” Aliyev said on a visit to northern Azerbaijan.
“Certain calls on us (to make compromises on Nagorno-Karabakh) are
without foundation,” the Azeri leader added.
“All international norms, the economic situation, are on our side.
Large resources are being given to the army and we will continue to
make available these resources.”
Since large-scale fighting ceased in 1994 Nagorno-Karabakh — which
is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan — and several
surrounding Azeri regions have been under the control of Armenian
forces.
Azerbaijan has insisted that Armenian troops relinquish the
territory, and has said it reserves the right to use force to settle
the dispute.
In the past, Azerbaijan has signalled that it might make concessions
in order to reach a lasting peace settlement with Armenia over the
enclage. One possibility that has been mooted is an exchange of
territory.
But Aliyev’s comments Wednesday, to a unit of border guards on
Azerbaijan’s frontier with Russia, seemed to indicate that this
option has now been ruled out.

Agence France Presse
July 20, 2004 Tuesday
Chirac confirme a Erdogan son soutien a la candidature turque a
l’UE(PAPIER GENERAL ACTUALISE)
Par Suzette BLOCH
PARIS, 20 juil
BODY: Le president francais Jacques Chirac a confirme mardi son
soutien a la candidature de la Turquie a l’Union europeenne en
recevant au palais presidentiel de l’Elysee le Premier ministre turc
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, en visite officielle a Paris.
M. Chirac “a rappele que l’integration de la Turquie dans l’Union
europeenne etait souhaitable des qu’elle serait possible”, a rapporte
l’Elysee a l’issue d’un tete-a-tete entre les deux dirigeants suivi
d’un dejeuner.
Le president francais a souligne que “la Turquie avait fait des
progres considerables, et qu’elle doit poursuivre et intensifier la
mise en oeuvre des reformes democratiques et economiques”.
M. Erdogan a remercie lors d’une conference de presse M. Chirac pour
“l’approche constructive” et “l’attitude tout a fait positive de la
France” en ce qui concerne la candidature turque.
Il a tenu a preciser que le Conseil europeen du 17 decembre ne ferait
qu'”approuver le debut d’un processus de negociation”. “Nous ne
savons pas combien va durer ce processus, c’est une periode qui nous
permettra de combler toutes nos lacunes”, a-t-il insiste.
M. Chirac s’est declare a de nombreuses reprises et sans ambiguiete
en faveur d’une adhesion, alors que son propre parti, l’UMP (Union
pour un mouvement populaire), y est oppose, ainsi qu’une grande
partie de l’opinion francaise.
Lors du sommet de l’OTAN a Istanbul le 29 juin, M. Chirac a qualifie
d'”irreversible” le processus menant a l’adhesion de la Turquie.
Au deuxieme jour de son sejour a Paris, M. Erdogan a ainsi obtenu un
appui de poids dans sa campagne pour promouvoir la candidature
d’Ankara dans une France tres reticente et divisee sur cette
question.
Paris et Ankara ont fait avancer parallelement un autre dossier
important, celui de l’achat eventuel d’avions Airbus par la compagnie
nationale turque Turkish Airlines pour le renouvellement de sa
flotte.
Ces discussions “sont en cours de finalisation”, a indique la
presidence francaise a l’issue de l’entretien Chirac-Erdogan. M.
Erdogan a indique que la signature devrait intervenir mardi soir ou
mercredi matin.
Ce contrat avait ete notamment discute lundi soir par M. Erdogan avec
le Premier ministre Jean-Pierre Raffarin.
Le consortium aeronautique europeen Airbus et l’americain Boeing
devraient en principe se partager ce contrat de deux milliards de
dollars (1,6 milliard d’euros).
M. Erdogan a appele les milieux d’affaires francais qu’il a
rencontres mardi au siege du Medef (patronat francais) a l’epauler et
a investir dans son pays. La France est le deuxieme partenaire
commercial de la Turquie et son quatrieme fournisseur.
Le ministre francais des Affaires etrangeres, Michel Barnier, a pour
sa part estime mardi, interroge sur la radio privee Europe 1 que “le
chemin etait encore long” avant l’adhesion mais que ce pays etait sur
la bonne voie.
M. Erdogan devait egalement mardi rencontrer les deputes de la
Commission des Affaires etrangeres de l’Assemblee nationale puis le
president sortant de l’UMP, Alain Juppe.
Le Premier ministre turc a regrette la persistance de doutes, de
reserves ou de debats sur le principe de l’adhesion de la Turquie.
“Le fait que ces debats continuent a exister malgre le paquet de
reformes qui a ete accompli, cela nous attriste”, a-t-il dit aux
journalistes.
L’opposition de gauche francaise est, pour sa part, favorable a
l’adhesion, mais le Parti socialiste exige au prealable la
reconnaissance du genocide armenien de 1915.
M. Erdogan a declare lors de sa conference de presse que les criteres
d’adhesion a l’UE “n’impliquent pas de reconnaissance d’un genocide
armenien”.
“Un tel evenement qui s’est passe dans le passe, savoir quelle partie
a fait telle chose, laissons cela aux mains des historiens”, a-t-il
ajoute. “Nous devons construire l’avenir, il ne faut pas s’occuper de
la partie vide du verre mais de la partie pleine”, a-t-il dit.
La communaute armenienne de France (450.000 personnes) est la plus
importante apres celle des Etats-Unis. Elle a appele a manifester a
Paris pour que M. Erdogan “engage son pays dans le processus de
reconnaissance du genocide armenien”.

Agence France Presse
July 20, 2004 Tuesday
Erdogan: la reconnaissance d’un genocide armenien pas dans les
criteres del’UE
PARIS
Le Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan a declare mardi a Paris
que la reconnaissance d’un genocide armenien ne figurait pas dans les
criteres d’adhesion a l’UE et il a renvoye cette question “aux
historiens”.
Les criteres de Copenhague, qui definissent les conditions d’une
adhesion a l’Union europeenne, “n’impliquent pas de reconnaissance
d’un genocide armenien”, a declare M. Erdogan, interroge lors d’une
conference de presse qu’il a tenue a Paris ou il effectue une visite
officielle.
“Un tel evenement qui s’est passe dans le passe, savoir quelle partie
a fait telle chose, laissons cela aux mains des historiens”, a-t-il
ajoute. “Nous devons construire l’avenir, il ne faut pas s’occuper de
la partie vide du verre mais de la partie pleine”, a-t-il poursuivi.
De nombreux hommes politiques reclament en France, ou vit une
nombreuse communaute d’origine armenienne (450 000 personnes), que la
Turquie reconnaisse le genocide armenien de 1915, pendant l’empire
ottoman.
Le Parti socialiste, premier parti d’opposition en France, favorable
au principe de l’entree de la Turquie dans l’UE, la conditionne
cependant a la reconnaissance du genocide.
La Turquie, qui rejette categoriquement la these d’un “genocide”,
avait ete particulierement irritee par l’adoption par le parlement
francais en 2001 d’une loi reconnaissant le genocide armenien.
Environ 2.000 personnes ont manifeste mardi a Paris a l’occasion de
la visite de M. Erdogan a l’appel de plusieurs organisations
armeniennes de France.

El Pais
July 21, 2004
Turquia logra el apoyo de Chirac para negociar su adhesion a la UE
J. P.
Paris
El presidente frances, Jacques Chirac, confirmo ayer su apoyo a la
adhesion de Turquia a la Union Europea “en cuanto sea posible”, para
lo cual aconsejo “continuar e intensificar la aplicacion de las
reformas democraticas y economicas”. Asi lo dijo un portavoz de
Chirac tras la entrevista mantenida por el jefe del Estado frances
con el primer ministro turco, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, quien se mostro
convencido de que Francia aportara “un gran apoyo” a su pais en el
Consejo Europeo del 17 de diciembre, en que esta previsto decidir si
deben abrirse las negociaciones para la entrada de Turquia en la UE.
Por razones de politica interna, Francia ha sido uno de los paises
mas reticentes a la candidatura turca. Hace meses, Chirac estimo
publicamente en una decena de anos el tiempo necesario para hacer
realidad esa adhesion. Ayer se ahorro la comparecencia conjunta con
Erdogan -habitual en otras muchas visitas oficiales- y dejo que este
diera cuenta a la prensa, en solitario, de lo hablado.
A la clase politica francesa le cuesta mucho aceptar la entrada en la
UE de un pais musulman con cerca de 70 millones de habitantes. El
propio partido que sostiene a Chirac, la Union por un Movimiento
Popular, reitero su postura contraria a esa adhesion durante la
reciente campana a las elecciones europeas. El otro gran partido de
centro-derecha, la Union por la Democracia Francesa, tampoco lo
acepta porque “una ampliacion perpetua (…) debilitara a Europa y le
impedira actuar”, insiste su presidente, Francois Bayrou.
La entrevista de Erdogan con el lider socialista, Francois Hollande,
prevista para hoy, se ha visto precedida de una declaracion de ese
partido a favor de la apertura de negociaciones con Ankara, a
condicion de que Turquia respete los derechos humanos y reconozca los
abusos contra la minoria armenia a comienzos del siglo XX en
Anatolia.
Los problemas politicos de Turquia contrastan con el empuje de las
autoridades francesas y del constructor aeronautico Airbus para
venderle aviones a la linea aerea turca Turkish Airlines, actualmente
en fase de privatizacion.

Il Sole 24 Ore, Italia
July 20, 2004
Ankara chiede a Parigi un via libera per la Ue
Vittorio Da Rold
Il premier turco Erdogan vede Raffarin e Chirac – In gioco il si’ ai
negoziati
DAL NOSTRO INVIATO
PARIGI *c E’ una specie di e allo stesso tempo
una tappa cruciale quella che il premier turco, Recep Tayyp Erdogan,
in visita ufficiale a Parigi da ieri per tre giorni, tenta di portare
a compimento in terra di Francia per sostenere la causa di un
eventuale ingresso della Turchia nell’Unione europea.
Erdogan, un islamico moderato a capo di un governo monocolore che ha
raccolto buoni successi in campo economico rilanciando la crescita e
abbattendo l’inflazione, sara’ accompagnato da una numerosa
delegazione, tra cui una folta rappresentanza della Tusiad, la
Confindustria turca, per convincere Parigi, anche sul fronte dei
legami commerciali, ad ammorbidire la sua posizione ostile nei
confronti di Ankara.
Lo schieramento politico interno e’ abbastanza definito: la destra e’
contraria (la direzione dell’Ump, il partito di maggioranza ha votato
contro l’ingresso della Turchia durante la campagna per le europee)
mentre i socialisti sono favorevoli, in linea di principio
all’ingresso, ma pongono come condizione che Ankara faccia passi
avanti sul tema del rispetto dei diritti dell’uomo e sul
riconoscimento del genocidio armeno avvenuto durante la Prima guerra
mondiale (un tema pero’ che trova forti opposizioni proprio tra le
forze armate turche, guardiani discreti della laicita’ di Ankara).
Insomma, il quadro e’ abbastanza complicato al punto che Jean-Louis
Bourlanges, dell’Udf, il partito centrista, alleato con Chirac a
Parigi ma unito a Rutelli con i “Liberali per l’Europa” a Strasburgo,
non ha esitato ad affermare in un’intervista senza mezzi termini a
che . In altri
termini, non c’e’ spazio per Ankara, almeno per ora, in Europa pur
riconoscendo la possibilita’ di migliorare la natura di rapporti di
buon vicinato.
.
Comunque il governo francese, all’indomani dell’annuncio del
presidente della Repubblica, Jacques Chirac di indire un referendum
nel 2005 dagli esiti molto incerti sulla Costituzione europea, non
vuole correre altri rischi e non e’ favorevole all’eventuale ingresso
della Turchia nell’Unione. Roma, Berlino, Londra e Madrid, invece,
sostengono Ankara. Anche il presidente americano George W. Bush, nel
corso dell’ultimo summit della Nato svoltosi in Turchia, aveva
perorato la causa turca suscitando pero’ la reazione piccata di
Parigi che non si era lasciata scappare la ghiotta occasione per
l’ennesima polemica con l’iperpotenza americana: , aveva ribattuto Chirac a Bush che aveva
chiesto, senza successo, l’intervento della Nato in Irak. Ribaltando
la dottrina Monroe, Parigi aveva invitato gli Usa a pensare alle
politiche relative al proprio emisfero.
Da Parigi, dunque, passa la difficile strada di Erdogan per
Bruxelles, dal momento che la maggior parte della classe politica
francese e’ ostile all’idea di aprire un negoziato per l’ingresso
della Turchia nella Ue.
, ha precisato il premier Erdogan,
prima di partire per Parigi. Erdogan incontrera’ oltre a Chirac anche
il primo ministro francese, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, mentre ieri ha
partecipato a una cena con la comunita’ turca. .
VITTORIO DA ROLD

ARKA News Agency
July 21 2004
NKR President Arkady Gukasian receives group of French compatriots
Armenian-Georgian relations are one of constituents of regional
stability
RA Parliament Speaker and Georgian Foreign Minister discuss expanding
of bilateral relations
RA President and German Ambassador in RA discusses issues of mutual
cooperation
RA PM and US Ambassador to RA discuss issues of Armenian-US
partnership
*********************************************************************
NKR PRESIDENT ARKADY GUKASIAN RECEIVES GROUP OF FRENCH COMPATRIOTS
YEREVAN, July 21. /ARKA/. NKR President Arkady Gukasian received
group of French compatriots. Delegation consisted of the President of
`Europe de la Memoire’ Organization Alexis Govchian, Member of Board
of Commercial Council of Organization of Black Sea Economic
Cooperation Samson Ozararat, representative of Armenian Community of
Nice Grikor Adjerkhanian and Director Executive of EU Chamber of
Commerce in Armenia Ovanes Igitian. The parties share the impressions
on Nagorno Karabakh and exchanged views on several issues considering
links between Nagorno Karabakh and Diaspora. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN RELATIONS ARE ONE OF CONSTITUENTS OF REGIONAL
STABILITY
YEREVAN, July 21. /ARKA/. Armenian-Georgian relations are one of
constituents of regional stability, RA Government press office told
ARKA that this was stated by RA PM Andranik Margarian during the
meeting with Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zurabashvili. Margarian
expressed satisfaction with high level of Armenian-Georgian
interstate relations, based on mutual trust and cooperation and on
the friendship of the two people.
Talking about provision of regional stability Margarian stressed the
interest of Armenia in stability of Georgia.
During the meeting Zurabashvili represented internal political
developments in Georgia, namely situation in Ajaria, Abkhazia, South
Osetia and relations of Georgia with Russia and Turkey.
The parties also discussed actual problems of Djavahk. Margarian
expressed hope that the authorities of Georgia will continue
concentration on settlement of socio-economic, educational and
culture problems of Armenians of Djavahk. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
RA PARLIAMENT SPEAKER AND GEORGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSS EXPANDING
OF BILATERAL RELATIONS
YEREVAN, July 21. /ARKA/. RA Parliament Speaker Arthur Baghdasarian
and Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zurabashvili discussed expanding
of bilateral relations, RA NA told ARKA. The parties noted the
importance of regional cooperation and involvement of South Caucasus
countries in mutual economic programs, stressed the necessity of
activation of the parliaments in international structures and
participation in South Caucasus parliament initiative.
Baghdasarian noted the steps taken by Georgia on the way of
democratization of society and expressed confidence that they will
contribute to improvement of life conditions of Armenians living in
Georgia. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
RA PRESIDENT AND GERMAN AMBASSADOR IN RA DISCUSSES ISSUES OF MUTUAL
COOPERATION
YEREVAN, July 21. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian met today the
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Germany to RA H.E.
Hans Wulf Bartels that is completing his three years long mission in
Armenia. As RA President Press Service told ARKA, RA President highly
appreciating Bertel’s contribution into the development of
Armenian-German relations, Kocharian mentioned that during the
Ambassador’s activity there was realized a whole package of
interesting programs. Bartels expressed his gratitude for the support
rendered during his mission in Armenia. T.M. -0–
*********************************************************************
RA PM AND US AMBASSADOR TO RA DISCUSS ISSUES OF ARMENIAN-US
PARTNERSHIP
YEREVAN, July 21. /ARKA/. RA PM Andranik Margarian met today the
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of US to RA John Ordway
that is completing his mission in the country. As RA Government
Public and Press relations Department told ARKA, PM highly
appreciated the Ambassaodr’s activity in RA as well as his efforts
aimed at stimulating the Armenian-US relations. The Head of the
Armenian Government also mentioned the essential progress targeted at
more active political and economic ties as well as the cooperation in
the international structures. As one of the results of the
cooperation he mentioned including RA in Millennium Challenge
initiative.
Presenting the program of working out and discussion of the
Millennium Challenge Armenian Program, Margarian assured that in
September as per the developed plan, the Program would be submitted
to the US Government’s review. He also expressed a hope that the
Armenian Program would catch the attention of the US Government,
while its implementation would contribute to considerable extent into
accomplishment of the strategic program for elimination of poverty.
In his turn as said by John Ordway, he considers the development of
the Armenian Program in the frameworks of Millennium Challenge an
evidence of cooperation of two countries and one of the most
important initiative for Armenia. He also expressed a hope that the
Program will continue successfully during the activity of new US
Ambassador. T.M. -0–

[Congressional Record: July 19, 2004 (Extensions)]
[Page E1413-E1414]
>From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr19jy04-20]

CELEBRATING THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
______

HON. EDWARD J. MARKEY
of massachusetts
in the house of representatives
Monday, July 19, 2004
Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a treasured
institution in the Armenian-American community and in my Congressional
District, the “Armenian Weekly Newspaper” which is celebrating its
70th Anniversary of publication this year.
Since 1934, the English-language Armenian Weekly has been published
by the Hairenik Association of Watertown, Massachusetts, located in my
district. The Association also publishes the Armenian Weekly’s parent
publication, “The Hairenik,” which is the longest running Armenian-
language newspaper in the world.
Mr. Speaker, this past April we gathered to commemorate the Armenian
Genocide, one of the darkest chapters of World War I, and what is
sometimes called the “Forgotten Genocide.” The Armenian Weekly plays
an invaluable role in helping all of us to remember that tragic period,
but more importantly, to celebrate the lives of the survivors and their
wonderful and enduring culture.
In September of 1919, President Woodrow Wilson spoke of his vision of
a future Armenia. He said, “Armenia is to be redeemed . . . So that at
last this great people, struggling through night after night of terror,
knowing not when they may come out into a time when they can enjoy
their rights as free people that they never dreamed they would be able
to exercise.” Since the rebirth of the Armenian national following the
collapse of the former Soviet Union, the Armenian Weekly has run
numerous stories on issues and events affecting the politics and
economy of the Republic of Armenia, and the efforts of the Armenian-
American community to support its struggle to survive and prosper.
Mr. Speaker, two of our most cherished freedoms in the United States
are freedom of speech and freedom of the press. For seventy years now,
Armenian-Americans have been
[[Page E1414]]
celebrating those freedoms through the Armenian Weekly Newspaper. In
addition to its extensive coverage of news events of interest to the
Armenian-American community, over the years, the paper has printed
numerous short stories, essays and poems. For example, the stories that
initially brought noted Armenian-American writer and playwright William
Saroyan to national attention were first published in the Armenian
Weekly.
I congratulate Editor Jason Sohigian and everyone associated with
this remarkable publication and I wish the Armenian Weekly Newspaper
many more years of service and success.

Grand Traverse Herald
July 21, 2004
Name search finds shared history
Local resident forms network celebrating Armenian heritage
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Culling page by page through the phone book recently, Leslie
Narsisian-Voss was honoring her roots.
The Blair Township resident decided to found the Northern Michigan
Armenian Network and was searching for area residents who shared her
Armenian heritage. She patiently searched out the distinctive last names of
her ancestral homeland, mailing out between 50-60 flyers announcing the
group’s inaugural meeting.
Sunday afternoon, ten people descended from the southwestern Asian
nation gathered at the Traverse Area District Library to celebrate their
culture.
They nibbled on distinctive Armenian dishes such as bourma, a pastry
of phyllo dough layered with walnuts and honey, listened to Armenian music
and shared stories of their ancestry. Attendees also checked out Armenian
travel books, looked at samples of the currency, the Dram, and viewed photos
of one person’s travels to Armenia.
“This is the most enthusiastic group of people,” Narsisian-Voss said.
“I had calls from approximately seven or eight more families who wanted to
come but this was not a good day for them.”
“I know this will take on a life of it’s own,” she added.
Rose Megregian of Elk Rapids came to the United States as an infant
with her parents after World War I, fleeing turmoil in that region. The
family prospered in Detroit, her father landing a job with Ford Motor
Company. Megregian became an American, following a trajectory of
assimilation shared by many immigrants of that era.
“I went to kindergarten and didn’t speak any English, we spoke
Armenian in the home all the time,” she noted, adding that she learned
school routines by watching and soon picked up the language.
Megregian said that the Armenian written language is unique. Created
1,600 years ago, it provided a written form of the spoken language used in
that region for millennia. Armenian is a phonetic language where each of the
36 letters represents a sound; for example, there is letter for a soft r
sound and one for a hard r sound. Letters are not combined to form another
sound as they are in English.
Megregian is thrilled to find the group because she fears she is
losing her language after years of not speaking it regularly.
“I didn’t have anybody to speak it to here,” she said.
Narsisian-Voss has ambitious plans for the group, possibly including
language lessons as well as ethnic dinners. With an upcoming trip to Armenia
schedule for spring, she is determined to improve her language skills.
“My grandma never spoke English to me, I grew up in a very thick
Armenian home,” Narsisian-Voss noted. “This connection is like a network, it
is good to know other people that share a similar heritage.”
Armenia is a small, landlocked country whose inhabitants can trace
lineage in the area to thousands of years before Christ’s birth. One of the
world’s oldest civilizations and the world’s first Christian nation, Armenia
embraced the religion in 301 A.D. Today, 94 percent of the nearly 3 million
people are Armenian Orthodox. The country celebrated 1,700 years of
Christian heritage in 2001 by welcoming Pope John Paul II.
A former Soviet Republic – the Soviet Army annexed the fledgling
republic in 1920 – the citizens voted for independence and formed the
Republic of Armenia in 1991.
The country’s location east of Turkey, north of Iran, south of Georgia
and west of Azerbaijan contributed to a tumultuous history fraught with
persecution of Armenian culture and genocide. Over the centuries, Armenians
have fled to all corners of the world. Residents of these enclaves carefully
preserved their heritage, culture and language.
“Every country in the world has a community of Armenians,”
Narsisian-Voss said. “My anthropology professor went to China on a
sabbatical and found a community there. They spread out after the genocide,
they had to.”
For more information on the Northern Michigan Armenian Network,
contact Narsisian-Voss at [email protected]

Azerbaijan to make no territorial integrity compromises – president
Turan news agency, Baku
21 Jul 04

Xudat, 21 July: “The Karabakh conflict remains Azerbaijan’s most
painful problem. For many years Azerbaijan has been trying to resolve
this issue peacefully. But regrettably, the talks have yield no
results,” Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said today when
addressing the personnel of a military unit of the Xudat border
detachment on the Azerbaijani-Russian border.
According to him, the activities of the mediators have yielded no
results either. “As for various calls and proposals, they do not
reflect the reality,” Aliyev added.
“Azerbaijan’s cause is fair. Our lands are under
occupation. International legal norms, justice, economic opportunities
and potential are on our side,” he said.
Aliyev spoke about major work in the sphere of military
build-up. According to him, sufficient funds have been spent and will
be spent on this sphere in the future.
In several years Azerbaijan will turn into an economically strong
state and its military “superiority” will intensify even further. “In
these conditions, we cannot have a positive attitude to some calls,
particularly, with regard to compromises,” Aliyev said.
“Compromises are impossible on the issue of territorial integrity. I
have repeatedly said that we will not compromise on the issue of
territorial integrity. Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity will be
restored. The possibilities of achieving this peacefully have not been
exhausted yet. However, we have to be ready to liberate our lands
militarily at any moment. We have everything for this: the unity of
the Azerbaijani people, the people’s complete readiness for action, a
strong army and the will of the Azerbaijani leadership and people,” he
added.

AZERBAIJANI OPPOSITION URGES AUTHORITIES TO REFUSE FROM MEDIATORY
ACTIVITY OF OSCE MINSK GROUP IN SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONLFICT
YEREVAN, JULY 21. ARMINFO. Azerbaijani opposition bloc
Democratic-Azerbaijan BDA urges the country’s authorities to refuse
from the mediatory activity of OSCE Minsk Group in the settlement of
the Karabakh conflict.
According to INTERFAX-AZERBAIJAN, representative of the political
council included in BDA “Party of Civil Solidarity” Samir Asadli, the
orgnaization has distributed a relevant document. “Concrete acts are
expected from OSCE Minsk Group and not unfounded statements. The
co-chairs do nothing to settle the Karabakh conflict,” the statement
says. That is why the Azerbaijani authorities should refuse from OSCE
services and try to settle the problem by themselves, the BDA
statements says.