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UZEIR JAFAROV: "THE ARMED FORCES OF AZERBAIJAN ARE SUPPLIED WITH ALL THEY NEED"
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
June 26 2014
26 June 2014 - 10:47am
Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Gasanov made a speech to graduates
of the Higher Military School for the upcoming Day of the Armed Forces
marked on June 26. The minister emphasized that the country had a
fully-prepared army to accomplish any mission, including liberation of
the Nagorno-Karabakh territories. He noted that military expenditure
had increased 20-fold in the last years, allowing the military and
their equipment to be modernized and training of officers to be
improved. 253 Azerbaijani soldiers are training abroad. Teachers at
military education centers improve their skills in NATO and Middle
Eastern countries. The minister noted that the modernization had
changed the balance of power in Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding
areas. VK has interviewed military expert Uzeir Jafarov about the
developments.
- What has been done in the last years to strengthen the defensive
potential of Azerbaijan?
- The modern Azerbaijani Armed Forces are not the army we had, let's
say, in the times of the first Karabakh War. Back then, Azerbaijan was
forming an army simultaneously with combat on the frontline. A lot has
been done since the signing of the ceasefire agreement in 1994. Of
course, sometimes we criticize certain nuances, but we understand
where we have work and there are always flaws and problems. We would
certainly want to minimize such problems. Why? Because it is the Armed
Forces that protect the security and sovereignty of Azerbaijan today.
The Azerbaijani Armed Forces are supplied with all the necessary
weapons and equipment today. Azerbaijan is one of the first in the UN
registry. Although we have slightly descended in the table in the last
few years, it is because we have supplied the army with all it needs.
We got modern tanks, artillery systems, jets, combat helicopters. We
have also purchased the Favorit anti-missile system in Russia. Last
year, it was demonstrated on the central square during a military
parade. Generally, the weapons Azerbaijan possesses are sufficient
for the Armed Forces to accomplish any mission. The only goal is
to protect the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Until recently,
Azerbaijan has made no claims or ambitions regarding neighbours or
nearby territories, and Azerbaijan has no such plans. Thank God we
have normal relations with Russia and our southern neighbour Iran. We
have close contacts with Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan on maritime
boundaries. In one word, the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan today are
ready to accomplish their goal.
- What is the potential of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces?
- Yesterday, during the speech at the Heydar Aliyev Military
School where young offices graduated, the defense minister said
that Azerbaijan was planning to expand its military potential
and cooperation with other states. Today, Azerbaijani officers
are represented, if I am not mistaken, in 24 countries as military
attaches and representatives of Azerbaijan. Today Azerbaijan is fully
represented at NATO headquarters. As far as I know, the number of
officers there will grow from 7 to 10 this year. In other words,
Azerbaijan pays special attention to cooperation with NATO, and we
have close contacts with many countries. In particular, Azerbaijan
has great economic, cultural and other ties with Israel. We have been
having close military ties with Israel in recent years and, thank God,
it benefits both countries. The products produced from cooperation
between Azerbaijani and Israeli specialists are presented at many
international exhibitions today. Azerbaijan has good relations with
Russia too. In my opinion, the contacts that Azerbaijan and Russia
have formed in recent months give reason to say that we will most
likely see bigger opportunities for cooperation between Russian and
Azerbaijani military specialists in the very near future. Rounding up,
Azerbaijan and Turkey, as well as Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia,
will hold joint military drills at a military range of one of the
three countries in 2014. By the way, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces
started joint drills yesterday. The Defense Ministry, Interior and
Border Forces are taking part in them. The drills are being held at
the central range, where NATO drills were organized, dedicated to
the Day of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.
- What military equipment does Azerbaijan prefer to buy?
- Azerbaijan has been buying T-90S tanks in Russia in recent years.
The deal was made in 2011. Russia will send the final military
vehicles this year. We have already shipped Mi-35 helicopters from
Rostov to Azerbaijan, to Baku. They have already been manned by the
border service and the Defense Ministry. The Smerch salvo missile and
artillery systems enforcing security in the Nakhchivan Autonomous
Republic have been purchased in Russia. The purchased weapons and
vehicles include Israeli small arms, medical and communication
equipment. Azerbaijan has many opportunities today, and they are
gradually being realized. In my opinion, we would likely see in 2014
that the Azerbaijani Armed Forces would modernize equipment left from
the USSR times in other sectors. Of course, Azerbaijan pays special
attention to enforcing security in the Caspian Sea. You know that
Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran have been improving their
military potential in recent years. Azerbaijan pays special attention
to enforcing security in the Caspian Sea as a country with maritime
boundaries.
About 4 billion manats were granted from the state budget for
military needs and security this year. Of course, the funds will
not only be spent on the needs of the Defense Ministry. Big funds
are granted for the needs of the defense industry. We have military
equipment demonstrated in Turkey, Malaysia and, if I am not mistaken,
in Kazakhstan. An exhibition of military equipment will also be
organized in Azerbaijan in September. The country will demonstrate
advanced military equipment produced in Baku there. Azerbaijan is fully
supplying itself with bullets for small arms today. Azerbaijan has
started manufacturing the Matador and Marauder heavy armored vehicles.
Both have already been tested by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. Armored
vehicles with a reinforced hull floor for protection from mines are
produced today. A lot is being done today. The Azerbaijani military
industry in Azerbaijan has made great achievements in a short period.
There is joint production with Turkish specialists and South Africa.
There are many plans. As far as I am concerned, the Defense Industry
Minister, Mister Yaver Jamalov, said that 600 military products we
being produced. It is a very big, serious figure. And I am fully
confident that Azerbaijan realizes that the military industry has
always been a very lucrative sector. That is why money is invested
in it. In some time, all the money will return to the budget of the
Republic of Azerbaijan.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/interviews/politics/56898.html
From: A. Papazian
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
June 26 2014
26 June 2014 - 10:47am
Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Gasanov made a speech to graduates
of the Higher Military School for the upcoming Day of the Armed Forces
marked on June 26. The minister emphasized that the country had a
fully-prepared army to accomplish any mission, including liberation of
the Nagorno-Karabakh territories. He noted that military expenditure
had increased 20-fold in the last years, allowing the military and
their equipment to be modernized and training of officers to be
improved. 253 Azerbaijani soldiers are training abroad. Teachers at
military education centers improve their skills in NATO and Middle
Eastern countries. The minister noted that the modernization had
changed the balance of power in Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding
areas. VK has interviewed military expert Uzeir Jafarov about the
developments.
- What has been done in the last years to strengthen the defensive
potential of Azerbaijan?
- The modern Azerbaijani Armed Forces are not the army we had, let's
say, in the times of the first Karabakh War. Back then, Azerbaijan was
forming an army simultaneously with combat on the frontline. A lot has
been done since the signing of the ceasefire agreement in 1994. Of
course, sometimes we criticize certain nuances, but we understand
where we have work and there are always flaws and problems. We would
certainly want to minimize such problems. Why? Because it is the Armed
Forces that protect the security and sovereignty of Azerbaijan today.
The Azerbaijani Armed Forces are supplied with all the necessary
weapons and equipment today. Azerbaijan is one of the first in the UN
registry. Although we have slightly descended in the table in the last
few years, it is because we have supplied the army with all it needs.
We got modern tanks, artillery systems, jets, combat helicopters. We
have also purchased the Favorit anti-missile system in Russia. Last
year, it was demonstrated on the central square during a military
parade. Generally, the weapons Azerbaijan possesses are sufficient
for the Armed Forces to accomplish any mission. The only goal is
to protect the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Until recently,
Azerbaijan has made no claims or ambitions regarding neighbours or
nearby territories, and Azerbaijan has no such plans. Thank God we
have normal relations with Russia and our southern neighbour Iran. We
have close contacts with Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan on maritime
boundaries. In one word, the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan today are
ready to accomplish their goal.
- What is the potential of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces?
- Yesterday, during the speech at the Heydar Aliyev Military
School where young offices graduated, the defense minister said
that Azerbaijan was planning to expand its military potential
and cooperation with other states. Today, Azerbaijani officers
are represented, if I am not mistaken, in 24 countries as military
attaches and representatives of Azerbaijan. Today Azerbaijan is fully
represented at NATO headquarters. As far as I know, the number of
officers there will grow from 7 to 10 this year. In other words,
Azerbaijan pays special attention to cooperation with NATO, and we
have close contacts with many countries. In particular, Azerbaijan
has great economic, cultural and other ties with Israel. We have been
having close military ties with Israel in recent years and, thank God,
it benefits both countries. The products produced from cooperation
between Azerbaijani and Israeli specialists are presented at many
international exhibitions today. Azerbaijan has good relations with
Russia too. In my opinion, the contacts that Azerbaijan and Russia
have formed in recent months give reason to say that we will most
likely see bigger opportunities for cooperation between Russian and
Azerbaijani military specialists in the very near future. Rounding up,
Azerbaijan and Turkey, as well as Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia,
will hold joint military drills at a military range of one of the
three countries in 2014. By the way, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces
started joint drills yesterday. The Defense Ministry, Interior and
Border Forces are taking part in them. The drills are being held at
the central range, where NATO drills were organized, dedicated to
the Day of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.
- What military equipment does Azerbaijan prefer to buy?
- Azerbaijan has been buying T-90S tanks in Russia in recent years.
The deal was made in 2011. Russia will send the final military
vehicles this year. We have already shipped Mi-35 helicopters from
Rostov to Azerbaijan, to Baku. They have already been manned by the
border service and the Defense Ministry. The Smerch salvo missile and
artillery systems enforcing security in the Nakhchivan Autonomous
Republic have been purchased in Russia. The purchased weapons and
vehicles include Israeli small arms, medical and communication
equipment. Azerbaijan has many opportunities today, and they are
gradually being realized. In my opinion, we would likely see in 2014
that the Azerbaijani Armed Forces would modernize equipment left from
the USSR times in other sectors. Of course, Azerbaijan pays special
attention to enforcing security in the Caspian Sea. You know that
Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran have been improving their
military potential in recent years. Azerbaijan pays special attention
to enforcing security in the Caspian Sea as a country with maritime
boundaries.
About 4 billion manats were granted from the state budget for
military needs and security this year. Of course, the funds will
not only be spent on the needs of the Defense Ministry. Big funds
are granted for the needs of the defense industry. We have military
equipment demonstrated in Turkey, Malaysia and, if I am not mistaken,
in Kazakhstan. An exhibition of military equipment will also be
organized in Azerbaijan in September. The country will demonstrate
advanced military equipment produced in Baku there. Azerbaijan is fully
supplying itself with bullets for small arms today. Azerbaijan has
started manufacturing the Matador and Marauder heavy armored vehicles.
Both have already been tested by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. Armored
vehicles with a reinforced hull floor for protection from mines are
produced today. A lot is being done today. The Azerbaijani military
industry in Azerbaijan has made great achievements in a short period.
There is joint production with Turkish specialists and South Africa.
There are many plans. As far as I am concerned, the Defense Industry
Minister, Mister Yaver Jamalov, said that 600 military products we
being produced. It is a very big, serious figure. And I am fully
confident that Azerbaijan realizes that the military industry has
always been a very lucrative sector. That is why money is invested
in it. In some time, all the money will return to the budget of the
Republic of Azerbaijan.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/interviews/politics/56898.html
From: A. Papazian