«Armenia can never compete with Azerbaijan,» Azeri President I. Aliyev stated at the II World Azerbaijanis Congress March 16. In his words, Azerbaijan is increasing its military power and its military budget makes $600 million this year. «I set a task of making Azerbaijan's military budget equal to all of Armenia's budget in the near future.» «Armenia can never compete with us. The earlier Armenian leaders understand it, the better for them,» Aliyev said.

Aliyev said that Azerbaijan will have to reconsider its participation in the peace talks over the Nagorno Karabakh settlement if it sees «Armenia breaks the negotiation process and is not constructive.» «The peace talks have been held for 12 years, but they did not bear fruit. We abide by the peace process, however when we encounter Armenia's not constructive stance, our patience expires. If Azerbaijan sees that the peace process is an imitation, it will refuse from participation in it,» Aliyev said. In his words, Azerbaijan will not admit tearing away Nagorno Karabakh either in 10 or 100 years. «There will be no peace accord without solving the question of return of displaced persons to their native lands,» the Azeri President underscored, Trend reports.