“Zhamanak” says Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh must counter Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s attempts to “legitimize the right to kill Armenian soldiers.” “Judging from the developments of the last two or three days, the Armenian side is trying to do just that after realizing that it is apparently unable to strip Aliyev of that right by political means,” says the paper. “Aliyev will continue to kill Armenian soldiers,” it claims. “Therefore, the Armenian has no option but to physically strip Aliyev of that ability or at least impose a situation that would make it extremely hard for him to carry on with what have been ordinary killings for him.”
“Azerbaijan is already starting to whine,” “Zhoghovurd” says, commenting on the latest developments on the Karabakh frontlines. “After punitive actions taken by the Armenian side, the Azerbaijani has started talking of a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.” The paper points to a statement made by Aliyev’s top foreign policy aide, Novruz Mammadov, and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov’s letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. “This Azerbaijani uproar is further proof that the establishment of peace can only be imposed on the enemy,” it says. “There is no doubt that the stronger the Armenian punitive actions are, the more peace-loving Azerbaijani will become.”
“168 Zham” claims, meanwhile, that it is Azerbaijan that is keeping tension on the Karabakh frontlines high with weapons and ammunition purchased from Russia. The paper also accuses Moscow of financially benefiting from the fighting in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict zone.
“Hraparak” calls for the sacking of more Armenian military officials, holding them responsible for the large number of combat deaths suffered Armenian and Karabakh troops during the April 2-5 hostilities in and around Karabakh. The paper notes that not a single Defense Ministry official has stepped down on his own.
“Haykakan Zhamanak” reports that the Armenian government is now considering banning imports of some Turkish goods to Armenia. The paper questions the wisdom of such a ban. “The problem is that around $140 million worth of Turkish goods are imported to Armenia every year,” it explains. “Most of them are imported by small and medium sized businesses. They are the ones who would suffer from such a ban.”
(Tigran Avetisian)