OSKANIAN: ARMENIANS OF KARABAKH PROVED THEY CAN DEFEND THEIR INDEPENDENCE

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers Vatran Oskanian and Elmar Mammadyarov addressed the 60-the Session of the UN General Assembly. Starting his speech Vartan Oskanian stated that Armenia being ahead of its neighbors occupies the 83-th position in the Human Development Index. "We achieved this result despite our unfavorable geopolitical position," the RA FM said adding that Armenia has no sea borders and oil. "But if we had oil income we would spend it on education, social welfare and environment protection but never on doubling the military budget", he stated. When touching upon the Karabakh conflict the RA FM noted, "The Armenians of Karabakh achieved independence de-facto. They proved that they can defend their independence, form democratic institutes and hold elections." In his turn the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister presented Baku's position on the issue. "First, Armenians should withdraw forces form the seized territories to escape the stain of aggressor and create an atmosphere of trust", Elmar Mammadyarov said. In his words, "refugees should return to their houses and local police should be formed in Karabakh to provide security for Armenians and Azeris. The Karabakh Armenians should be given the possibility to communicate with Armenia while Nakhichevan should have communication with Azerbaijan." "Thus the Lachin corridor should become the path of peace used in both directions and controlled by international peacekeepers at the initial stage," he stated, reported RFE/RL.