Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 7
By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend: Andrey Ruzinski's statement has various contradictions, Chief of Political Analysis and Information Provision Department of Azerbaijani Presidential Administration, Elnur Aslanov told media on Nov. 7.
He was commenting on the statement by the commander of the 102nd Military Base of the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces, Colonel Andrey Ruzinski.
"On the one hand, he speaks about the jurisdiction of Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh. Of course, he once again emphasizes that this territory belongs to Azerbaijan. On the other hand, he makes another statement which is full of contradictions," Aslanov said.
According to Aslanov, if Azerbaijan fails to restore jurisdiction on its territory, it may resort to various options.
Earlier, Andrey Ruzinski said that if hostilities begin in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Russian military base may join an armed conflict in accordance with the obligations of the Russian Federation within the CSTO.
"As President Aliyev stressed, at present, Azerbaijan is strong and independent as ever," Aslanov said. "Azerbaijan has as a powerful army and an independent policy now."
"Azerbaijan's lands are under Armenia's occupation. Azerbaijan did not occupy and did not intrude any country's territory. On the contrary, the occupation forces entered the territory of Azerbaijan and more than one million citizens of Azerbaijan have become refugees and IDPs. If we fail to achieve desirable results through the peace negotiations, then, of course, we can resort to various options. From this point of view, no one, including an individual acting on the basis of own reasons, contrary to the country's official position, can hamper us."
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.
Top official: Azerbaijan not to allow any country to interfere in restoring jurisdiction on its own territory
Andrey Ruzinski’s statement has various contradictions, Chief of Political Analysis and Information Provision Department of Azerbaijani Presidential Administration, Elnur Aslanov told media on Nov. 7.
