'Azerbaijan to take more drastic measures towards Armenia'

Azerbaijan will take more drastic measures toward Armenia, if necessary, head of Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Social and Political Department Ali Hasanov told the media today.

Hasanov was answering the question about Baku's planned actions in response to Armenia's threats to shoot down the aircrafts, flying to Azerbaijan, from the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

"Today the Azerbaijani government is taking all necessary measures in this regard and conducts the necessary work," he said.

Hasanov underscored that the separatist regime is being supported today by Armenia and its leadership.

"Restoring the former Khojaly airport, organizing the flights by the separatist regime, receiving and sending aircrafts in Azerbaijan's sovereign territory are illegal without the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue and Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict," he said.

"This is contrary to the international laws and all aspects of inter-state relations," he said. "Therefore, Azerbaijan will take the necessary measures. We think that we will be able to stop this."

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.


/Trend/