17:58, 23 December 2003

Zerkalo newspaper: Armenian authorities ready to exchange Karabakh lands for Baku oil

Editors of the Zerkalo newspaper published in Azerbaijan obtained information concerning the resolution of the Karabakh problem. It was given by political scientist Rovshan Novruzoglu, head of the International Center for Strategic Studies "Bank - Information". It turns out that Armenian authorities themselves suggested a way out of the situation - to exchange the occupied territory for the Baku oil.

According to Mr. Novruzoglu, the Armenian Parliament discussed "security issues" on November 3, 2003, and Armenian Minister of Defense Serzh Sarkisian told that the Baku-Tbilisi-Jeikhan oil pipeline was a factor of security in the South Caucasian region. The point is that Armen Kirakosian, an Armenian diplomat, and Armais Aganesian, unofficial representative of the military intelligence department in Nagorny Karabakh, drew out a plan.

The heart of the plan is that Baku agrees to lay on one of the pipeline offshoots to Armenia, that is to say, to provide it with energy supply, and Armenia quits the occupied lands in exchange.

Source: Zerkalo newspaper (Azerbaijan)