Sahakian: Baku's martial rhetoric has no influence on KarabakhNovember 17, 2007 - 17:08 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Nagorno Karabakh President Bako Sahakian thanked Armenia and Armenian people for representing Stepanakert's interests in settlement talks in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. "We are interested in Armenia participation in talks in this format, since the only way to achieve peace is to negotiate. At the same time we are confident that Karabakh's joining the talks is an essential condition for bringing the problem to a logical end. Presently, the Artsakhi and Armenian authorities apply every effort to resume the mandate of our republic as a party in talks," the NKR President said. When touching upon Azerbaijan's bellicose statements and armament race, Mr Sahakian said, "Azerbaijan's ongoing threats of war do not contribute to a peaceful settlement in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. We do think that the Azeri leadership should be more constructive. As a tool of psychological pressure, these statements have no influence on us." "We are strong and will continue living on our native land. We will create all conditions for our people to live and work in peace. As to Azerbaijan's build-up of military might, I should say we are not idle either. We have a multi-faceted defense system and modern anti-aircraft devices. We can defend our country at any moment," Bako Sahakian told Boston-based Hairenik, The Armenian Weekly and The Mirror Spectator newspapers. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Concept to complete Yerevan Cascade discussed at city hall A conceptual proposal to complete the Cascade complex in downtown Yerevan has been presented by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Pashinyan visits flood-hit region Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday, June 8 visited the disaster area in the Lori province. €3.5 mln EU grant to support justice reforms in Armenia The European Union has paid €3.5 mln grant to Armenia within a €11mln program on Support to Justice Reforms. Yerevan reacts to Baku’s proposal to see Minsk Group abolition Alen Simonyan has declared that Armenia is taking steps aimed at concluding a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. |