Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

Too bad NKR is not bound by any of these garbage rules since no one wants to recognize it [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
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Arms Race?: Armenia concerned over Azerbaijan’s increasing military spending
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Armenia has constantly pointed at the fact that Azerbaijan has several times increased its military budget and continues its military buildup. However, a majority of Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) member states have not given an adequate evaluation to the fact that Baku violates international treaties on limitations of armaments, Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan stated in Yerevan during a joint press conference with the OSCE’s secretary general on Monday.

Marc Perrin de Brichambaut stated that the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty (CFET) is a major instrument of preserving peace in the region and its fulfillment has become particularly important after the events in Georgia.

According to the CFET quotas for Azerbaijan and Armenia, either country can have no more than 220 tanks, 285 units of field artillery and mortars, etc.. Azerbaijan long ago crossed the limit, officials in Yerevan believe.

Beginning in 2004, Baku’s military spending has constantly grown, which became possible due to the increased revenues in the lucrative oil sector. According to official data, in 2007 Baku’s military budget reached the level of $1.1 billion, while Yerevan’s military spending amounted to $280 million.

According to the data of Armenia’s Defense Ministry, Azerbaijan has 276 tanks and more than 1,000 armored troop-carriers (instead of allowed 220).

Still since the end of last year, Baku has stated about the need for revising the CFET quotas for Azerbaijan “considering the new geopolitical realities.”

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov said that Azerbaijan has certain problems in connection with the CFET because of the presence of uncontrolled territories where neither Azerbaijani nor international representatives can conduct inspections.

In his New Year address to the nation on December 31, 2007, Azeri President Ilham Aliyev promised to continue the modernization of armed forces and stated that the country’s military budget in 2008 will be no less than $1.2 billion. He repeatedly stated that “in the future Azerbaijan’s military budget will generally exceed the whole budget of Armenia.”

At the Monday press conference in Yerevan, Minister Nalbandyan pointed out that the problem of Azerbaijan’s exceeding its CFET quotas requires a more serious approach and that “by increasing its defense spending Azerbaijan does not speak about peaceful intentions, but rather speaks about the possibility of war.”

Armenia and Azerbaijan remain the region’s two military archrivals having an unsettled dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh, a Yerevan-backed former autonomous region in Soviet Azerbaijan that won its de-facto independence from Baku as a result of the 1991-1994 war. Despite the ceasefire and continuing internationally mediated peace talks, sporadic clashes and skirmishes often occur between Azeri and Armenian forces along the line of contact.

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Good! This is the only kind of attitude that has to be used. There are no "buffer zones", "security belts", "7 regions around NK", "NK proper" etc. There is only NKR!
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NKR doesn’t use term ‘liberated territories’
18.12.2008 18:00 GMT+04:00 Print version Send to mail In Russian In Armenian

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Nagorno Karabakh doesn’t use the term ‘liberated territories,’ an expert said.

“Seven regions that were regained by the Karabakh army during the war are inseparable part of the NKR territory, as it’s fixed in the Constitution,” Masis Mayilyan said during “The Karabakh issue: perceptions in Armenian society and the results of 2008 negotiations” round table discussion today.

“These territories constitute the security zone. It’s impossible to say whether Lachin is more important that Fizuli. All regions are strategically important,” he said.

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Armenian media has picked up on the story, it even has a picture [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]I hope they make their way into Armenia.

Plusieurs familles azéries du Nakhichevan annoncent qu’elles veulent se rendre en Arménie
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vendredi2 janvier 2009, par Stéphane/armenews


Le 27 décembre plusieurs familles azéries résidantes dans le Nakhchivan, prétendant que leurs fils ont été battus par la police, ont annoncé leur intention de traverser la frontière arménienne annonce la presse de Bakou.

Sept jeunes gens âgés de 18 à 23 ans, chargés de brancher les lumières sur l’un des Arbres du Nouvel An au Nakhchivan ont été retenus dans la soirée du 26 décembre par la police. Ils ont été battus et rasés et se sont vus interdire de sortir après 18h.

En protestation les parents de ces jeunes ont annoncé qu’ils allaient quitter le pays.

"Nos fils ont été battus jusqu’au matin, ils ont été rasés et détenus dans un commissariat de police pendant une nuit. Comment pouvons-nous vivre comme ça ? Maintenant nous voulons aller dans un autre pays. Nous voulons vivre en Arménie. Nous avons récupéré nos enfants avec de grandes difficultés" a dit l’un des parents.

La police Nakhchivan a expliqué leurs actions en disant qu’elle a voulu intimider les jeunes et a affirmé que cette question a trouvé un arrangement après une conversation avec les parents.

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"THE NEXT MUST BE NAKHIJEVAN"
An exclusive interview with Jirair Sefilian

- "Jarangutyun" party recently put into circulation the draft law of recognition of Nagorno Karabakh independence. What can you say on this occasion?

- If the issue is settled only with the recognition of NKR independence, I am against it. I will agree with it, if it has a logical continuation, mainly, if after it NKR unites the Republic of Armenia turning into two or more provinces of it. Besides, parallel with this we must correct our mistake of 1988 and lay claim to joining Nakhijevan to Armenia. If it is not logical continuation of the proposal of "Jarangutyun", then I am against it. Without the mentioned steps it seems that NKR becomes independent not from Azerbaijan, but Armenia, and it will do a big harm to our national unity. Before that proposal, the authorities of NKR took seriously the "fact" of being independent. By the way, it is one of the main reasons of contradictions between the citizens of Armenia and Karabakh, when Armenians being citizens of different states forget that Artsakh is part of Armenia. The creators of NKR at that time thought that they would have chances to maneuver in international political sphere. In reality, we lie to ourselves, while the so-called international society continues to regard it as an Armenian-Azerbaijani issue and does not see Artsakh as a separate side of the conflict. We must stop this clownery and organize a new referendum to unite NKR with Armenia.

- Nevertheless, according to recent Gall polls 2/3 of the questioned are for the independence of NKR.

- I don’t think that Gall polls show the real picture. The Gall polls are not for the clarification of the people’s approaches, but for the compulsion of other viewpoints. The results of that Gall poll are not only incorrect, but also very dangerous because of the advocating effect.

- Do you think that it’s the correct time to speak of not only the joining of NKR and Armenia, but also to raise the issue of Nakhijevan parallel?

- Until today, it’s not understandable for me why the Karabakh movement didn’t demand for joining Nakhijevan. Didn’t the members of Karabakh committee know that Nakhijevan was banished at the same time with Artsakh? Didn’t they know that if Garegin Njdeh did not organize the resistance of Syunik, it would also have the same fate? I have heard many explanations, which remind me justifications. But now the most important thing is not to know the real reasons of it, and not to blame the political figures of that time, but to correct the mistake, and it’s the real time and even late. The issue of Artsakh we may consider as settled by 80 percent. Nevertheless, we must not forget of the rest 20 percent: the regions of Shahumian and Getashen. We must also start the process of Nakhijevan today, though we are pretty late to start it. The moment was served two years ago by the scream of Nor Jugha’s crossstones. The Azerbaijani army’s leaders of Nakhijevan must answer for that barbaric crime. Nakhijevan must become the main issue of RA foreign policy. Diaspora must also buckle down to it, having it in the foreground instead of the recognition of the Armenian genocide.

- But Armenians were majority in Artsakh, while the Azerbaijani live in Nakhijevan.

- We are not going to force the population of Nakhijevan, Tatars by origin, to leave their homes. They must understand that they are new comers. I am sure that the population living there is very dissatisfied with its barrack-like form of life. Armenians are ready to live in peace with them, not to be rancorous. Armenia must recommend their security and provide educational, cultural and economic freedom, and roads, but the Armenian authorities must rule the region. The necessity of joining Nakhijevan to Armenia is not conditioned only with the rehabilitation of historical justice. It has also geopolitical and economic importance for nowadays Armenia’s strategy. The Azerbaijani army must leave that region, but the Armenian armed forces will not allocate there, as Nakhijevan will become an anti-military region creating the best conditions for the free market between Armenia and Iran.

- Don’t you think that it will bring to a new war, a new instability and economic collapse?

- The means of pretension must be legal, diplomatic, public, scientific-cultural, etc. All those means must serve the only goal – manifestation of the national will to re-possess Nakhijevan. The authorities of the provinces of Syunik, Vayots Dzor and Ararat must have contact in connection with it. It doesn’t mean that we rouse a war. If our enemy wants a war and is ready for it, it will not ask our opinion. It’s a well-known truth that only the week are attacked. Iran may be a good means to settle the issue and not to re-start the war, as it is a highly respected country for both sides.

- What about the economy, I am sure that the main reason that impedes the progress of the Armenian economy is the present infirm regime of Armenia, and not the Karabakh conflict.

- The transport network, which has a big role in the economy, is insufficiently developed in Armenia. With the help of Nakhijevan we could recover the railway communication with Syunik and Artsakh, and also make a railway connection with Iran, which has a strategic importance for Armenia. The gas and oil pipelines could easily go to North within the territory of Nakhijevan. It would be also possible to create an oil refining industry. Being the continuation of the Ararat valley and a significant granary of wheat, Nakhijevan could transfer Armenia from an importer of wheat to an exporter of it, and to multiply the export of other agronomical cultures. A new opportunity would be given to build a hydroelectric power station on Arax River. The benefits are evident also in the sphere of defense: instead of 150 km we would protect only 8 km border after the join of Nakhijevan. With this, we would make more invulnerable "the Armenian wedge" and will protect and develop the Northern-Southern strategy of our country.

- Do you think that it is realistic to carry out this program?

- Unfortunately, it’s not possible to carry out national programs of strategic importance under the present-day regime. Nevertheless, I think that it’s time to speak and discuss these kind of programs, in order to realize it without delay under the future national government.

Translated by L. H.

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The New Year's party is over and it's back to work for the azerbaboons. However, Armenian media is still drunk as it remains silent even after 6 days (though today is Christmas).
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Aliyev Again Threatens New War For Karabakh

Published: Monday January 5, 2009

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has renewed his public threats to win back Nagorno-Karabakh by force, telling his compatriots to be ready to restart an all-out war with the Armenians “at any moment.”

Aliyev's Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisian, meanwhile, spent the New Year's Eve inspecting Armenian frontline positions and celebrating the holiday with soldiers stationed there.

A statement by Sarkisian's press office said he visited an undisclosed section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani line of contact with Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian to monitor the day-to-day service of Armenian troops and wish them a happy new year and merry Christmas. “The head of state made a toast to the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia,” it said.

Sarkisian made little mention of the unresolved conflict with Azerbaijan in his New Year's address to the nation broadcast by Armenia's television station at midnight on January 1.

“Nagorno-Karabakh is an ancient Azerbaijani land, and we will make every effort to restore Azerbaijan's territorial integrity,” Aliyev said in a similar televised speech reported by Azerbaijani media. “We can use political, diplomatic and, if necessary, military means. We do have such a right. International law allows that.”

Aliev added that the Karabakh conflict, which was halted by a Russian-mediated truce in May 1994, is not over. “Only the first stage of the war ended, and we must be prepared to free our lands of occupiers by any means and at any moment,” he said. “The military parade held [in Baku] in 2008 demonstrated our military might to everyone.”

Aliyev has regularly threatened the Armenians with another war ever since he succeeded his late father Heydar as president of Azerbaijan in 2003. He avoided making such threats in the months that followed the August war between Russia and Georgia.

Sarkisian said in the wake of the brief war that Georgia's disastrous attempt to restore its control over South Ossetia militarily will have a “sobering impact” on Azerbaijani leaders. A senior U.S. official likewise suggested in October that the threat of renewed fighting in Karabakh has “somewhat receded” because the Russian-Georgian conflict “reminded everyone in this region how terrible war is.”

In a joint declaration issued after their early November talks outside Moscow hosted by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Aliyev and Sarkisian pledged to seek a “political settlement” of the Karabakh conflict. Top diplomats from the United States, Russia and France subsequently urged them to finalize an agreement on the basic principles of such a settlement proposed by the three mediating powers. The mediators hope that the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders will do that at their next meeting expected early this year.

But in a sign of lingering Armenian-Azerbaijani disagreements on the most important of those principles, Aliyev again stated that Azerbaijan will never accept the loss of Karabakh. Sarkisian and other Armenian leaders, on the other hand, maintain that Karabakh's return under Azerbaijani rule is out of question.

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Any thoughts? Propaganda or somewhat true opinion by this man? There's some really ridiculous parts but the comments against Artsakh-Armenians have been seen before, particularly by Levonakan scum.
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Armenian soldier: "I call on all Armenian soldiers to flee the country"
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12 March 2009 [11:01] - Today.Az
Armenian soldier Paruyr Stepanyan who fled Armenia last year in protest of widespread violence and tyranny in the Armenian Army has gained 24 kg weight, according to ANS Press.

Armenian soldier Paruyr Stepanyan who fled his country in 2008 in protest against widespread violence and tyranny in the Armenian Army has been handed to the third country in accordance with his own will. He said in his interview with ANS TV shortly before his departure that he spent a very pleasant year in Azerbaijan stressing that he did not even feel how the days passed. “I didn’t quite feel I was an imprisoner thanks to the people dealing with me. They developed a special program for me. I was watching TV and even walking out. I was also provided with plenty of food," Armenian soldier said.

Stepanyan who was only 48-kg in weight now added up to 24 kilos. He now weighs 72 kg. He also sent a message to a newly conscripted Armenian soldiers. “I call on them to pass to the Azerbaijani territory. I already know how hospitable Azerbaijani people are. They will get here everything they want to. I’m absolutely sure of that,” Stepanyan noted.

"I call on them to flee Armenia. Because they will forcibly be taken to the army and Daqliq Qarabaq. People don’t want to fight. I lived in Armenia myself. I know what is happening in the country. People don’t think about war. All Qarabaq Armenians have gathered in Yerevan. They kill the local Armenians. Because, the leaders of the country are also Qarabaqi Armenians. People perfectly understand that they can’t live in such a country”, he said.

Stepanyan says Armenians should make a decision about their future and should throw their weapons off and return the occupied territories to their true owners. He believes Armenia might develop only after taking that step. He preferred to keep it secret to which country he was going to. “I regret I can`t answer your question. It is connected with my security. You know that there is a terrorist organization called “ASALA”. Therefore I’m concerned about my safety." Stepanyan said.

/Day.Az/

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Fresh accusations against Russia. Let's hope these continue and they piss off the Kremlin.
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Azerbaijan says Russia arming enemy Armenia

BAKU (Reuters) - Azerbaijan accused Russia on Friday of supplying arms to Armenia, its foe in one of the most intractable conflicts arising from the Soviet Union's collapse.

Azeri Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov denied his country's oil-financed military expansion meant it was planning war to take back the region of Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenians, and said there was "no miracle" in sight to resolve the dispute.

"Armenia is being supplied by its military ally, Russia," Azimov, who is responsible for security issues at the foreign ministry, said in an interview with Reuters.

He said Moscow was equipping Armenia, its closest ally in the Caucasus, under cover of restocking its military hardware at the Russian military base in the Armenian town of Gyumri.

"We know that from time to time Russia is maintaining its presence in Gyumri. When new pieces are brought in, what happens to the old ones?" he said. "Things are coming in, and nothing is coming out."

Both Moscow and Yerevan have vehemently denied that Russia is supplying a military build-up in Armenia. Russia says it moved some troops and equipment to Gyumri after they pulled out of bases in neighbouring Georgia under an arms control pact.

Some analysts suggested last year's war between Russia and Georgia, also over an unresolved ethnic and territorial dispute, might revitalise efforts to resolve Nagorno-Karabakh, but diplomats say that beyond rhetoric there is little progress.

Ethnic Armenian separatists, backed by Armenia, fought a war in the 1990s to throw off Azerbaijan's control over mountainous Nagorno-Karabakh. An estimated 30,000 people were killed.

No peace accord has ever been signed, and the ceasefire is frequently tested by fatal exchanges of fire across the frontline. Armenia backs Nagorno-Karabakh's demand for independence, something Azerbaijan says it can never have.

SHIFTING POWER

But the balance of power in the region has shifted dramatically since the end of the Soviet Union. Azerbaijan's economic and military growth, based on oil exported westwards, has rapidly outpaced that of Armenia.

The mainly Muslim country, led by President Ilham Aliyev since he succeeded his father Heydar in 2003, refuses to rule out taking back Nagorno-Karabakh by force. Azerbaijan votes in a referendum next week on whether to scrap a two-term presidential limit, allowing Aliyev to run again in 2013.

Azimov said Azerbaijan, by growing its economy, its military and its image as a stable partner for the West, was trying to convince Armenia of the need to compromise.

But he denied Baku was looking for war, saying: "It's good to have a strong army, it's even better not to use it."

"We never said and we never say that we shall go to war with Armenia," he said. But with Armenia insisting on independence for the region, "I have to say that in all circumstances and by all means we will restore territorial integrity."

Azimov said he hoped the global economic crisis would force Armenia to give up demands for independence for the region, adding: "The time has come to think realistically for them."

Armenia has been hit hard by the crisis. Turkey's decision to close its border with Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with Azerbaijan has also taken its toll and shut Armenia out of lucrative energy transit deals currently enjoyed by Georgia.

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Not too shabby, Mr. President.
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Barack Obama maintains military aid parity for Armenia and Azerbaijan
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13.03.2009 20:24 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The U.S. President Barack Obama signed a bill for 2009 financial year providing the maintenance of military aid parity to Armenia and Azerbaijan; $48 million in assistance to Armenia and another $8 million for Nagorno Karabagh, reported the Armenian National Committee of America to PanARMENIAN.Net.

“We would like to thank Chairwoman Lowey, Chairman Leahy, and all the supporters of Armenian American concerns on their two panels for reaffirming military aid parity, approving a robust aid package for Nagorno Karabagh, and doubling the Bush Administration's patently insufficient $24 million aid request for Armenia,” said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. “We look forward, in the coming year, with a new Administration in the White House, to working with our Congressional friends to restore U.S. aid to a level commensurate with actual needs in Armenia, the many challenges she faces in the region.”

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Well there it is on PanArmenian

U.S. Administration cuts aid to Armenia, breaks military parity
08.05.2009 11:30 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Just two weeks after President Barack Obama failed to uphold his campaign promise to squarely reaffirm the historical fact of the Armenian Genocide, the president, in his Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 International Affairs budget request, broke another promise by cutting aid to Armenia, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly). The budget request also increased aid to Azerbaijan and overturned long-standing Congressional policy with respect to military parity between Armenian and Azerbaijan.

"This budget is fundamentally flawed," said Bryan Ardouny, Assembly Executive Director. "It is incomprehensible that a country which already has billions of dollars in oil and gas revenue would receive an increase in U.S. funding while the neighbor it blockades sees its funding decrease. This budget request not only undercuts what Congress has appropriated, but does not help strengthen stability in the South Caucasus," added Ardouny. "In addition, this does not send the right message to Armenia, an ally whose relationship with the U.S. was described this week by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as 'a very lasting and durable one,'" concluded Ardouny.

On the campaign trail in 2008, then-Senator Obama issued a statement which read:

As President, I will maintain our assistance to Armenia, which has been a reliable partner in the fight against terrorism and extremism. I will promote Armenian security by seeking an end to the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades, and by working for a lasting and durable settlement of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict that is agreeable to all parties, and based upon America's founding commitment to the principles of democracy and self determination. And my Administration will help foster Armenia's growth and development through expanded trade and targeted aid, and by strengthening the commercial, political, military, developmental, and cultural relationships between the U.S. and Armenian governments.

The proposed FY 2010 budget cut funding to Armenia, recommending $30 million in Economic Assistance, a decrease from FY 2009 level of $48 million. Additionally, the budget did not include funding for Nagorno Karabakh, while in FY 2009 Congress approved $8 million.

The Administration's FY 2010 funding proposal for Foreign Military Financing (FMF) calls for $4 million for Azerbaijan and only $3 million for Armenia. The proposed budget also suggests $900,000 for Azerbaijan versus $450,000 for Armenia in International Military Education and Training (IMET) assistance.

Ardouny stated that the Assembly will work with its friends in Congress to reverse this proposal on all levels. In previous years, the combined effort of the Assembly and the Armenian-American community has resulted in continuous security aid parity.

Apparently Obama is a two faced snake but hopefully congress will reverse this idiotic proposal which will give a country, whos military budget is 2 billion, more money than a country whos military budget is 300 million.

More details of Artsakh hero Samvel Babayan's thoughts and strategies.
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Samvel Babayan: “We must do everything to avoid a war”
Legendary commander talks about May 9 celebrations, the possibility of a new war, and the policy of repopulating the liberated territories
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Yerevan - According to Nagorno-Karabakh's former defense minister and army commander Samvel Babayan, May 9 is not only the celebration of the liberation of Shushi but also the day a ceasefire was established. In 1992, between May 7 and 9 Armenian forces moving toward Lachin and led by Commander Babayan liberated the ancient Armenia fortress city of Shushi. Two years later, on May 9, 1994, Azerbaijan signed the ceasefire document.

"For me, the signed ceasefire document is more important. We have already had 15 years of peace and God willing, that peace will be eternal. The liberation of Shushi was one of the first achievements that elevated the Armenian spirit. May 9 is also celebrated in Nagorno-Karabakh as Army Day and for the victory of the Great War, 1941-1945 [World War II]," said Mr. Babayan.

On May 9, 1994, Azerbaijan's Defense Minister Mammadrafi Mammadov, the next day Armenia's Defense Minister Serge Sargsian and on May 11 the Commander of Nagorno Karabakh's Defense Forces Samvel Babayan addressed a letter to the foreign and defense ministers of Russia, stating that late on May 10, early May 11 the conflicting sides had agreed to lay down their weapons.

On February 23, 2001, the late Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliev said in the Azerbaijani parliament: "I want to repeat once again, that the May ceasefire was a very important step and we moved in that direction consciously. Even though the issue has not been resolved, the ceasefire was necessary. Unfortunately, many have forgotten the war, they now live in comfort. Unfortunately they have forgotten the war."
Deterring Baku

Samvel Babayan is one of the few people who believe that the possibility of the war starting again is real. He is also convinced that Azerbaijan is ready for a new war, but there is one "however."

"Azerbaijan is prolonging the resolution of the conflict to once again go to war. I do not agree with that opinion that Azerbaijan is not yet ready for war. Azerbaijan is ready for war, but there is one problem: what if it loses? Azerbaijan is getting ready for that, to make 100 percent sure that it will win the next war. Because if a new war begins, it will lose more territories and it will no longer have anything to say in the negotiations. It is for this reason that Azerbaijan is avoiding a war and not because its army isn't ready," Mr. Babayan said.

The former commander is also convinced that even if a war begins, the Armenian army will win, but it is important to understand at what price. "We have to do everything to avoid a war. Our military leadership must not allow the adversary to become emboldened, or to think that in case of war they can register even the smallest success," he said.
After liberation

Seventeen years have already passed since the liberation of Shushi; however the city's population continues to be around 3,000, the same as it was in the mid-1990s. The ceasefire has been in place now for 15 years, yet just as in the liberated territories, in Nagorno-Karabakh resettlement has not taken place. If in the mid-1990s almost 13,000 people lived in the liberated territories, today only 7,000 do.

"In my opinion the authorities are not taking steps in that direction. The authorities are obligated to develop a policy to have those territories resettled; not by lightly renovating burnt-out homes and settling people there with no electricity, gas, water and then complain that people aren't going there. They must create conditions for people that are normal for living. Because a resettlement policy is not in place, the authorities don't believe that they will be able to keep those territories," concluded Mr. Babayan.

Referring to the process of conflict resolution, Mr. Babayan blamed the former authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh for Stepanakert being left out of the negotiation process.

"The issue will be resolved in Stepanakert, only in Stepanakert. When the time comes that the people of Karabakh feel danger, they will not submit to anything and will rebel. The Armenian nation does not have a de Gaul to persuade the people Karabakh of that which they have known for a long time. Yes, the conflict must be resolved by mutual concessions but those concessions must have a limit," he said.

The former commander doesn't see the Karabakh conflict resolution coming anytime soon. "Any political power that is conducting the negotiations has to understand whether it is able to carry that burden (concessions) or not. In today's political field, there isn't that person who will agree to those concessions that are being talked about today."

Mr. Babayan disagrees with the view that after mutual concessions, when peace has been established and the borders have been opened, only then will the economy of Armenia flourish.

"The issue isn't Karabakh and the 100,000 people who live there. The land belongs to he who lives on that soil. Karabakh has been a part of Armenia, and will be a part of Armenia. Even if they hang a nuclear bomb around the neck of the Armenian people, if we concede Karabakh, then we will no longer have the right to live as a people every again," said Mr. Babayan and concluded with the words of Monte Melkonian, another legendary commander of the Karabakh war: "If we lose Karabakh, then we will turn the final page in Armenian history."

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PURCHASING 'NEW ARMS' AZERBAIJAN REMOVES STUFF FROM UKRAINE
By David Stepanyan

ArmInfo
2009-05-11 13:16:00

Exlcusive interview of Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan, Major General, Karabakh
Hero, (nickname Commandos), with ArmInfo

Mr. Major General, 18 years have passed since the operation
'Koltso'. What was the real reason of those tragic events?

Operation 'Koltso' was launched on April 29 in 1990 by the forces in
Moscow that tried not to prevent the collapse of the USSR by all means
in their hand. Then, three Baltic states as well as Armenia and Georgia
came out with an initiative of withdrawal from the USSR. Therefore,
an active agitation campaign was launched in the Soviet Union against
the leaderships of those states that were accused of extremism and
formation of armed gangs in their territories. Actually, enlisting the
support of the Soviet army, the Azerbaijani leadership tried to take
advantage of the general Soviet hysteria about the 5 ' breakaway '
states in the context of Karabakh people's claims. Azerbaijanis were
crossing the border to Armenia, stealing cattle, felling. When all
this seemed insufficient to them, they began taking hostages. Operation
'Koltso' was conducted throughout the Armenian-Azerbaijani border from
Goris to Noyemberyan, Azerbaijani OMON backed by the Soviet army fired
at peaceful Armenian population since they were charged=2 0by Moscow
to liquidate the people arousing suspicion of involvement in armed
gangs. Thus, a bus with 13 Armenian militiamen bearing no relations
to 'armed gangs' was blasted. Hereby Moscow tried to repress the
liberation movement in the 5 breakaway states. For this purpose the
operation 'Koltso' was conducted and part of Nagorno Karabakh seized.

In Karabakh, the operation was conducted under a sly name 'inspection
of passport regime'. People have not understood yet the essence of
that operation and its numerous victims. It seems to me that human
lives have never been valuable in the USSR either during the Great
Patriotic War or the whole history. The operation 'Koltso' was the
last proof of my words.

Would you tell about some details of the ceasefire signed in Bishkek
in 1994?

First of all, it were the Azerbaijanis that made us fight. At first
we had neither desire nor possibilities to fight. We got all this
later. What we learned at first was to fight back inside our country
during occupation of Nogorno Karabakh by the Soviet troops and the
Azerbaijani OMON. Later, when the USSR collapsed and the Soviet troops
were withdrawn from Azerbaijan, Azerbaijanis were no longer able to
fight against us since they could no longer fire at our soldiers backed
by Russians. We could fight them down but our leadership in 1994 was
persuaded to sign ceasefire, which I think was a big mistake. The
following took place then: Aliyev asked Yeltsin, Nazarbayev and the
remaining leaders of CIS to do their best to prevent the all-out
offensive of the Armenian forces. As a result, Levon Ter-Petrosyan
was forced to accept the persuasions by the presidents of Russia
and Kazakhstan.

Did we have enough potential in 1994 for further offensive?

To say we had potential is to say nothing. That time the Azerbaijani
army was fully paralyzed then and was simply unable to fight. We had no
problem for further attacking them. However Bishkek treaty gave time to
the Azerbaijanis to turn down. I think we had to fight the enemy down
further attacking Azerbaijan and then make the lodgment we could really
make. But we failed hereby short-selling the Talish people that are
still striving to establish Talish republic. It is quite another point
that the defense line we have today is optimal for us from the point of
view of defense. We used to speak of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijanis,
but generally speaking there are no Azerbaijanis in that Azerbaijan.

You mean that pursuing offensive we would make it possible for the
oppressed national minorities in Azerbaijan to get self-determination
and put an end to 'Azerbaijan existing for centuries'?

Actually, our army would put an end to oppression of the national
minorities in Azerbaijan. Of course, Aliyev would later try to unite
them at lea st in an autonomous region and would succeed since he
has always been tricky. Now, the Constitution of Azerbaijan has no
provision on autonomy.

So, the 'high level of autonomy' they are allegedly going to provide
to Nagorno Karabakh has no single basis even in their legislation.

Do you share the ARFD's stand on the Armenian-Turkish relations? Do
you think it possible for Karabakh to become a map, at least a road-map
on the negotiating table?

I am non-party but has always sympathized with Dashnaktsutyun, which
is the oldest Armenian party. However, I think that at such important
historical moment for Armenia they shouldn't leave the coalition. Serzh
Sargsyan has repeatedly declared that the Karabakh conflict cannot
be a precondition to the Armenian-Turkish relations. The president
has repeatedly said the same also about Genocide. The same did our
foreign minister. I agree with the ARFD that Turks will never make
peace with us. I don't trust in them since they have always subjected
Armenians to oppressions and persecutions.

So, we must always be on guard in the relations with them. But it does
not mean that we should abandon normalizing relations with Turkey,
which is just one of the dangers threatening us.

What do you think about the current situation in Karabakh?

I have returned from Karabakh quite recently and I am going to visit
it for a few days again. I'd like to highlight that dramatic changes
are taking place there. The state building in the NKR has grown
so that the country is able to protect itself against any external
threats. The only negative feature of the Karabakh people is that they
do not strive for peaceful work. Instead, they just wait for a call
for war to show what they are able to. If the Karabakh people worked
as good as they fight, it would be excellent. But they are working in
this dimension and finding feed. I was in Mardakert region, in Shushi,
Stepanakert. A big work is being carried out there and something is
also being prepared for Azerbaijanis.

If nevertheless we manage to agree with Turkey and open the border
without preconditions, would it deprive Azerbaijan of the last chance
to unleash new aggression against Karabakh?

Opening of the border to Turkey has no importance or influence on
Karabakh issue. Armenia's blockade by Azerbaijan and Turkey does not
affect our fighting efficiency. The only thing Baku can rely on in
the fight against us is the principle of territorial integrity that
is opposed by another Equivalent principle of the international law
- the people's right to self-determination. These two rights do not
and will never meet each other.

So the format of negotiations should be changed. I do not think that
the situation may change from this point of view in the nearest future.

Nevertheless, Turkey will never betray Baku even=2 0if the border
to Armenia is opened. The processes in the relations of Armenia
and Turkey can be explained by the interest of Russia and the USA
in establishment of the diplomatic relations between Yerevan and
Ankara. And against this background Baku can be unalarmed.

Is it possible to say that the current status-quo is in favor
of everyone and no one including Azerbaijan needs new aggression
against NKR?

The point is that Azerbaijan has always bluffed and keeps on bluffing
when threatening with resumption of military actions. Let's Aliyev
unleash new war. What will it bring to him except thousands of
new victims on both parties? It is the only circumstance that
explains our unwillingness to be involved in the new adventure of
Baku. They are well aware that we are afraid of war as much as we want
it. Azerbaijan is not ready for war today and Aliyev does not need it
either. The oil-dollars belonging to the Azerbaijani people go to his
pocket. Moreover, Aliyev receives only 10-15% of the proceeds from oil,
the remaining belong to foreign companies that have invested billions
in recovery of oil and now wait for return. From this point of view
Aliyev is bound hand and feet.

So why Aliyev buys arms and proclaims it to the whole world?

Because it remains for Aliyev just to make military rhetoric, buy
and produce arms. Azerbaijan has rather big program on purchase and
production of w eapons. Baku is even going to produce helicopters
'Uragan' etc.

However we should not forget that it is also business of generals. If
someone really studies out what Azerbaijan has recently purchased,
it will turn out that Azerbaijan removed the whole stuff accumulated
in Ukraine after withdrawal of Soviet troops from the GDR. Business
is business. One should not forget about defeatist syndrome that
originated in Azerbaijan after Karabakh campaign. For instance,
a similar syndrome exists in Turkey with regard to Russia.

This defeatist syndrome is one of the reasons of Aliev's bellicose
sentiments. Aliyev tries to replace in Azerbaijan the spirit
of Karabakh army that is unbreakable. In addition, there is
also the military theory of generating combat power in the chief
direction of supposed breakthrough. In compliance with this theory,
the attacking party must prevail over the defending one three or
even four times. There is also the moral aspect requiring similar
prevalence i.e. Azerbaijan needs at least 250,000 manpower even for
theoretical breakthrough which is impossible since Azerbaijani army
does not exceed even 125,000 people and has no special reserves.

Thank you.

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AZERBAIJANI SERGEANT YIELDS HIMSELF HOSTAGE TO KARABAKH ARMY

ArmInfo
2009-05-11 13:00:00

ArmInfo. Nagorny Karabakh Republic Defense Ministry press- service
reported that on May 10 2009 at 9:45 am a sergeant of the 702nd
motorized rifle brigade of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, Anar
Khanbab-oghlu Hadzhiyev, arbitrarily left the observation post,
crossed the southern border of the contact-line of the NKR and
Azerbaijan armed forces and yielded himself hostage to Karabakh army.

During the preliminary interrogation, the Azerbaijani sergeant said
he had to go on such step because of humiliating treatment of juniors.

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Has the OSCE Minsk Group said something because something has pissed the azeris off. According to Today.az
"the co-chairs issued a statement supporting the position of President of Armenia and, apparently, the views of the co-chairs."
i dont know what they mean. Has the OSCE Minsk Group said they support Armenia or something?
Here is the full article:

Presidential Administration's department chief: Perhaps, Matthew Bryza provides Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama with false information for career advancement

12 May 2009 [11:24] - Today.Az



"I can not predict future moves, but I am surprised why the OSCE Minsk Group is not talking about the real situation?", said chief of Department for External Relations of the presidential administration Novruz Mamedov, voicing sharp condemnations for the co-chairs of the Minsk Group, in particular, US co-chair Matthew Bryza.

N. Mamedov noted that during the last meeting of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Armenian side has shown itself as extremely unconstructive.

"In particular, they did not want to take any step towards resolving the conflict, and once again demonstrated the territorial claims to Azerbaijan. Despite this, without consulting the President of Azerbaijan, the co-chairs issued a statement supporting the position of President of Armenia and, apparently, the views of the co-chairs.

That is, they are provide the world community , the president and the secretary of state, with wrong information as regards to progress, reconciliation of positions and so on. This is another proof of the special attitude towards Armenia, which is an aggressor country and protection of its interests. On the other hand, the co-chairs are interested in delaying the process, continuing missions and their functions," said N. Mamedov.

Day.Az reports with reference to the Azadlyg radio that Novruz Mamedov also said maybe Matthew Bryza provides Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama with false information for career advancement, promotion etc. "I have no other assumptions".

He also noted that it is better for Matthew Bryza to speak of Armenian President's position and the steps Serzh Sargsyan made for reconciliation.

"The President of Azerbaijan has repeatedly said that we recognize the right of peoples to self-determination, but it can only be exercised within the framework of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity".

N. Mamedov did not comment on what the rejection of Minsk Group services will bring to Azerbaijan noting only that this question should be left for later.

/Day.Az/

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