19 October 2004, 22:10
Karabakh will never be part of Azerbaijan, says Oskanian
"Karabakh's not being part of Azerbaijan is real today, and the international community takes it quiet normally. In spite of all statements by the Azerbaijan side, Nagorny Karabakh is independent and will never be part of Azerbaijan," Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian said to the country's National Assembly. The international community put no pressure on the Armenian authorities in the issue of accepting either, one or another variant of resolving the Karabakh problem, the minister assured. "Six years ago we weren't able to allow ourselves even to dream of Karabakh's being outside Azerbaijan, but today we speak about it freely," Vardan Oskanian said.
The minister considered the possibility of placing US military bases on the territory under control of Armenian armed units not real. "This problem is the one of Azerbaijan and the United States. The US will hardly take this step even if Azerbaijan has expressed such a wish. I doubt that this issue is being discussed today," Mr Vardanian said.
Author: Ashot Ter-Grigorian, CK correspondent Source: Caucasian Knot
