Political analyst: Azerbaijan’s bellicose rhetoric intended exclusively for domestic consumption
30.06.2011,
00:41
Azerbaijan’s bellicose rhetoric is intended exclusively for domestic consumption, Alexander Markarov, director of Armenian branch of the CIS Countries Institute
YEREVAN, June 29. /ARKA/. Azerbaijan’s bellicose rhetoric is intended exclusively for domestic consumption, Alexander Markarov, director of Armenian branch of the CIS Countries Institute, said Tuesday at the Yerevan-Moscow video bridge focused on results of trilateral meeting on Karabakh conflict settlement.
“Warlike gestures became Azerbaijan’s visiting card recently,” he said. “However, regarding its three-billion military budget, its readiness for war is not as important as its ability to win this war. And this is doubtful.”
The political analyst thinks that if Azerbaijan was ready for a short, but victorious war, it perhaps would resort to force.
But, he said, Baku acknowledges very well that the international community will any condemn any breach of peace process not only by imposing sanctions. That is why Azerbaijan’s bellicose rhetoric is intended for internal usage and should be taken adequately.
Karen Bekaryan, political analyst, on his side, said expressed opinion that if Azerbaijan was sure that Armenia and Karabakh were unable to resist its military attacks, it would start fighting.
He thinks that horrible is that Azerbaijan has managed to impose the following idea on the international community and co-chairs: it is a big concession from Azerbaijani side to refrain from resorting to force.
“Azerbaijan’s bellicose rhetoric has produced a remarkable effect – some forces and grups proposing to make a preventive strike against Azerbaijan instead of waiting for attacks from its side appeared here in Armenia,” Bekaryan said.
Karabakh conflict broke out in 1988 when Karabakh, mainly populated by Armenians, declared its independence from Azerbaijan.
On December 10, 1991, a few days after the collapse of the Soviet Union, a referendum took place in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the majority of the population (99.89%) voted for secession from Azerbaijan.
Afterwards, large-scale military operations began. As a result, Azerbaijan lost control over Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven regions adjacent to it.
Some 30,000 people were killed in this war and about one million people fled their homes.
On May 12, 1994, the Bishkek cease-fire agreement put an end to the military operations.
Since 1992, talks brokered by OSCE Minsk Group are being held over peaceful settlement of the conflict. The group is co-chaired by USA, Russia and France. -0-
“Warlike gestures became Azerbaijan’s visiting card recently,” he said. “However, regarding its three-billion military budget, its readiness for war is not as important as its ability to win this war. And this is doubtful.”
The political analyst thinks that if Azerbaijan was ready for a short, but victorious war, it perhaps would resort to force.
But, he said, Baku acknowledges very well that the international community will any condemn any breach of peace process not only by imposing sanctions. That is why Azerbaijan’s bellicose rhetoric is intended for internal usage and should be taken adequately.
Karen Bekaryan, political analyst, on his side, said expressed opinion that if Azerbaijan was sure that Armenia and Karabakh were unable to resist its military attacks, it would start fighting.
He thinks that horrible is that Azerbaijan has managed to impose the following idea on the international community and co-chairs: it is a big concession from Azerbaijani side to refrain from resorting to force.
“Azerbaijan’s bellicose rhetoric has produced a remarkable effect – some forces and grups proposing to make a preventive strike against Azerbaijan instead of waiting for attacks from its side appeared here in Armenia,” Bekaryan said.
Karabakh conflict broke out in 1988 when Karabakh, mainly populated by Armenians, declared its independence from Azerbaijan.
On December 10, 1991, a few days after the collapse of the Soviet Union, a referendum took place in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the majority of the population (99.89%) voted for secession from Azerbaijan.
Afterwards, large-scale military operations began. As a result, Azerbaijan lost control over Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven regions adjacent to it.
Some 30,000 people were killed in this war and about one million people fled their homes.
On May 12, 1994, the Bishkek cease-fire agreement put an end to the military operations.
Since 1992, talks brokered by OSCE Minsk Group are being held over peaceful settlement of the conflict. The group is co-chaired by USA, Russia and France. -0-
