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Armenian president expresses concern over Azerbaijanâ€™s rapid armament

18 November 2011 08:52 (UTC +04:00)

During his speech at the international conference â€œRegional Security Dynamics in the South Caucasusâ€, Armenian president expressed concern over Azerbaijanâ€™s rapid armament.

â€œThe arms race unleashed by Azerbaijan which is being implemented by numerously exceeding the ceilings set by the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) is a cause for concern not only for Armenia and the region but also on a larger scale regarding the regional security perspectiveâ€, Sargsyan said.

He said that the geopolitical developments occurring in the South Caucasus are complex and often difficult to foresee as the region carries on itself the influence of regional and extra-regional power centersâ€™ interest pooling and competition.

Sargsyan said that Yerevan tries to settle the existing conflicts peacefully.

â€œI am not vacillating to repeat that the OSCE Minsk group is the only platform for the settlement of conflict which is acceptable for Armenia. We are deeply convinced that a long lasting peace and stability can be formed only in case if the Nagorno Karabakh populationâ€™s physical security and the independent decision of its fate are guaranteedâ€.

Saying that the energy factor played an essential role in the geopolitical developments of the South Caucasus, Sargsyan noted that the new energy projects should not be used to upset the power equilibrium established in the region. In his speech, Armenian president threatened energy projects in the region: â€œSuch a policy is not only a threat to the security of separate states in the region but also may seriously endanger the uninterrupted functioning of the transit routes of energy sources.â€

Armenian president also added that Yerevan was loyal to position on normalization of relations with Turkey.