Azerbaijani FM : Sargsyan tries to reduce guilt for Armenian troubles

The Armenian leadership must not doubt the possibilities and growing power of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Elman Abdullayev told Trend, commenting on the statement of President Serzh Sargsyan on the fact that "policy, militaristic statements and the undue self-confidence of Azerbaijan creates tension in the region."

"Azerbaijan has every reason to believe in itself and in its strength and success as an independent state due to the rapid development and lasting position in the political and economic system in world coordinates. The Armenian president is aware of the possibilities of Azerbaijan, so it is obvious that populist statements made by Sargsyan are an attempt to reduce his guilt in total failures and the plight of Armenia," Abdullayev said.

"As for the Armenian allegations that Azerbaijan creates tension in the line of contact, then it worth emphasising once again that if it wasn't for Armenia occupying Azerbaijani territories, there wouldn't have been any tensions in the region," Abdullaev said.

"The entire responsibility for the situation at the contact line lies on the Armenian leadership," he said.

Abdullayev went on:"Armenia should not manipulate with the statements countries namely the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs and to appeal to the Helsinki Final Act, as the leaders of the co-chairs have repeatedly pointed out clearly the unacceptability of the status quo in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. As permanent members of the UN Security Council, these countries have adopted a resolution on an immediate withdrawal of Armenian troops without any preconditions from the territories of Azerbaijan."

"As for the constant complaints of Armenia that the country remains aloof from all the regional projects, it is the fault of the Armenian leadership," the Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
In this regard, it is useful to recall the recent words of the President of Armenia.

"I think we agreed on the point that energy projects should promote, not interfere with the balance of the region. Energy projects must not become a financing source for a new war in a fragile region," President Sargsyan stressed. According to him, his side shared the view that a blockade and closed borders are unacceptable in Europe of the 21st century.

"The non-participation of Armenia in regional projects is a direct consequence of the fact that Armenia continues to occupy the territory of Azerbaijan in the 21st Century, which goes against all international norms," Abdullayev said.

"Azerbaijan developed the region by its energy projects and non-participation of Armenia in regional projects is a fault of Armenian leadership which is not limited with rhetoric, but hold military and aggressive policy, not caring about own people," Abdullayev concluded.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.


/Trend/