BAKU (Armenpress)–Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev said on Wednesday that his country did not rule out the option to resume hostilities to liberate the occupied territories–if peaceful negotiations over Nagorno Karabakh fail.
Speaking at a meeting devoted to the 10th independence anniversary from the former USSR–Aliyev stressed that "Azerbaijan will liberate the occupied territories regardless of the costs. If we fail to do so by peaceful means we shall resort to every possible means–including military force," he said.
Aliyev reiterated his accusation of Armenia claiming that Armenia violated international norms and is being reluctant to make concessions.
In response to Azeri President Aliyev’s threats–Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian said–"Azerbaijan is making belligerent statemen’s and will continue do so in the future–and Armenia is responding and will continue to respond to them. We work carefully and consistently to keep the army prepared at the highest level possible. The Azeri statemen’s–I think–are only statemen’s."
Armenia’s Deputy Defense Minister Michael Harutyunian–also responded to Azeribaijan’s hostile speech saying that–"I am sure that Azerbaijan’s authorities will not use military force to solve the Karabakh conflict. The only thing these statemen’s achieve in Armenia is that they make us pay more attention to our military readiness." According to Harutyunian–if Azerbaijan starts any military action–Armenia’s military forces will be ready and able to resist them.