On October 6, the “Echo” newspaper made a reference to the American UPI
agency, stating that Defense Minister of Azerbaijan Safar Abiev and
U.S. Vice-State Secretary of Eurasian issues Steven Paifer have agreed
to allocate military bases in Azerbaijan and the “seized” lands of
Fizulia, Jebrayil and Zangelan. Yesterday the Foreign Minister of the
Republic of Armenia Vartan Oskanyan announced at the National Assembly
that this is an issue between the U.S. and Azerbaijan, however, he
believes that America will not take such a step. In response to what
Armenia will do in case the U.S. decides to allocate military bases in
the above mentioned areas, Vartan Oskanyan said: “What can we do? I
don’t know. Of course, that is their problem, but I think that there is
something provocative or speculative about this. I really don’t think
they will implement the plan, but if they do, then that’s their
problem.” But Vartan Oskanyan could not give an answer to what Armenia
was going to do. “I don’t wish to comment on that because this is on a
conversational level.”
