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“Armenia does not want peace and they want to maintain the status quo and it is the only reason that Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains unresolved,” said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on April 10 during the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers dedicated to the results of socio-economic development in the first quarter of 2015 and the tasks ahead.
President noted that the OSCE Minsk Group have repeatedly underlined the unacceptability of the status quo: “Armenia ignores it, and these states are not taking any concrete steps, except of the statements. Therefore these statements suspended in the air, thus, the conflict is delayed and does not find its solution. From the middle of last year, the leaders of the co-chairs have become active. In August, September, October, the leaders of Russia, United States and France held summits in order to find a way out of the situation and put an end to the conflict. Azerbaijan, of course, supports this activity because, as I have always pointed out, the most interested party in the settlement of conflict is Azerbaijan.
The Head of the State noted that Armenia demonstrated insincere attitude at these meetings, did everything to keep negotiations on the sidelines and talked more about some confidence-building measures: “We do not oppose to it. Confidence-building measures are also important, but the essence is to end the occupation. Despite this, after the Paris meeting, we came to a verbal agreement that both sides will try to reduce tension on the contact line, maybe it will positively impact on the negotiation process. However, the hypocritical policy of Armenia once again proved itself. Less than two weeks later, they launched a large-scale military exercises in the Agdam region. These teachings had one goal – to involve Azerbaijan in the provocation and disrupt the negotiation process. Several days we have tolerated these provocations, but then gave a wothy response to the enemy pointing their place. They’re using it, began to accuse Azerbaijan in aggressive behavior.
President Ilham Aliyev added that no one has taken this thesis seriously: “Azerbaijan has always demonstrated cool-headed position. Our participation in the negotiations for over 20 years shows that we want to resolve the issue peacefully. Armenia does not want the issue was resolved. Since they donot want to go out of our lands. Since ends of last year, the Armenian side is constantly committing attacks on our positions, and it continues this year. As a result of these attacks dozens of Armenians killed. According to the information we have destroyed more than 50 occupants over the last 3-4 months on the frontline. The culprit of this is a criminal regime in Armenia, its leaders, dictatorial regime in Armenia. I have already expressed my thoughts about it. If you do not want to die, then get out of the Azerbaijani lands.
President said that Azerbaijan will not retreat from its principle position: “We will defend that position. Armenia is paying a high price for this occupation – and the economic downturn, and the total loss of the remnants of independence, losses on the contact line, growing desertion in the Armenian army. Now Armenian soldiers, gone over to the Azerbaijani side, noted that the number of Armenian soldiers wishing to go to the Azerbaijani side is sufficiently large. Simply, they are afraid, because there is an ordder: if someone wants to go to the Azerbaijani side, he should be shot in the back and killed. That is the reality. This is the price paid by the aggressor state, and as long as the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict is not resolved, they will pay the price.
We have to, we conduct a more active struggle with Armenia, to isolate them from all international and regional projects. According to their official statistics, 30 percent of the population lives in poverty. But the real data is 50-60 percent. According to their official statistics, every year 60-70 thousand people leave the country forever. And the information that we have, indicates that this figure is close to 100 thousand. After a few years, there will not be the Armenian population in Armenia, created on historical Azerbaijani lands,” said President Aliyev.
Azerbaijani President noted that our society, especially the younger generation, should never forget that the Armenian state was created on historical Azerbaijani lands. It is our historical land, land of our ancestors. All place names are of Azerbaijani origin. To learn about it, just look at the maps drawn in Tsarist Russia in the early twentieth century. There is impossible to find a single Armenian name. In present-day Armenia, 80 percent of all villages have names of Azerbaijani origin. That is our historical lands, and we will definitely return to these lands. It is our strategic objective, and we are committed, we will strive to achieve this goal. Our economic, political, military power, demographics give reason to say that. In the near future Azerbaijan’s population exceeds 10 million people, and it has considerable importance to address the issue.
In short, we will continue to make efforts to restore our territorial integrity. Conflict should be resolved within the framework of international law, Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. There is no other way. Double standards must end. The territorial integrity of our country is no less important than the territorial integrity of other countries. If the Western world requires the settlement of the conflicts in the former Soviet Union in the framework of territorial integrity, and our conflict must be solved on these principles. But when it comes to us, you see that the ratio otherwise. This is the hypocrisy, double standards and injustice. At each meeting at the highest level, I have the same words I say these words to my partners. This hypocrisy, double standards must end. Armenia occupied the historical, legal territories of Azerbaijan. But when it comes to official statements, very abstract expressions are used. We say and we will say our word. As I said, our international authority is growing. Azerbaijan is no longer possible to be ignored, and without the consent of our country no initiative can be solved and put forward in the region.
Apa.az
