22:24, 7 October 2004

Azerbaijan defense minister threatens Armenia with war

"Our patience isn't infinite, and our armed forces are ready to liberate our lands. Armenia still has time to think, but it's running short. Any cooperation with Armenia is out of the question until this country recognizes the fact of occupying the Azerbaijan lands," Azerbaijan Defense Minister Colonel-General Safar Abiyev said in Turkey yesterday, October 6.

Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian stated: "Armenia doesn't want to levy war against Azerbaijan in any case, even if we're convinced that hostilities will lead to the results acceptable for us. The war requires huge material and financial resources. The state will even have to use insignificant social appropriations for military operations, but we don't want it."

Military expert Uzeir Dzhafarov said the Armenian Defense Minister's declaration is true. In his words, Armenia has lost much for 10 years of the truce, the country's economy is in a poor state, and Russia will not be able to provide aid to the same extent in case the war is resumed. Economy is the key argument in a war, and today's Armenia is not ready for a long war.

Author: Zaur Rasulzade, CK correspondent

Source: Caucasian Knot