"To tell the truth I doubt that serious preparation for peacekeeping operation in Karabakh is carried out somewhere. The consent of the parties is needed for it," Armenian Foreign Minister Serge Sargsyan stated in an interview with "Krasnaya Zvezda" Russian newspaper when commenting on the reports of the Russian media that a peacekeeping operation for Nagorno Karabakh of being elaborated in Brussels under the aegis of the OSCE. In his words, this will become possible when the conflicting parties come to an agreement. "Unfortunately there is no agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan at present. Consequently it's premature to speak of peacekeepers yet," he said.

When commenting on the current situation with Nagorno Karabakh the Armenian Defense Minister said, "I should note that the Karabakh issue is being constantly raised in Azerbaijan and some forces try to solve internal political problems by gambling on it. You are aware that the Azeri President and Defense Minister reiterate that if we do not agree on their conditions Baku will have to settle the problem by force. Moreover, Azerbaijan has doubled its military budget and the Azeri President promised to bring it to $1 billion. But it resembles blackmail."

"We are not afraid of war but we do not want it. In 1994 the ceasefire agreement was achieved with Russia's mediation. Today our troops occupy firm defense positions. Billions of dollars will not help. If the military budget could determine the efficiency of the army all oil-powers would possess the most efficient armies. But it's not so," Serge Sargsyan resumed.