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Supreme Commander-in-Chief of Azerbaijani Armed Forces: â€œArmenian army has no enough personnel to defend the line of contactâ€

24 April 2010 10:09 (UTC +04:00)

The occupation is continued today. We have to strengthen maximum our defense opportunitiesâ€, said Azerbaijani President, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev at the meeting held at the Ministry of Defense on April 23.

The head of state said great works and practical measures had been carried out toward this.

The president said the negotiations over the solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict were conducted for long years and new stage of the negotiations started in recent years created certain hopes. â€œThese hopes were becoming stronger because certain stages at the negotiation process and certain issues have been reached. Madrid principles have been achieved as a result of collective activity and renewed proposals made on the basis of Madrid principles and submitted to the sides may almost create a basis for the solution of the problem. I stated it many times that Azerbaijan could consider the updated proposals positively with some exceptions principally. These proposals can serve as a basis for preparation of peace agreementâ€.

The head of state emphasized that the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan could never be a subject of discussions. â€œOur position is based on the norms of international law and historic justice and real logic. The territorial integrity of Azerbaijan must be restored. Armenian occupation troops must be withdrawn from all occupied territories. Peace can be established and communications can be opened only after that. The Armenians living in Nagorno Karabakh today and Azerbaijanis that will return there will live under the status of high autonomy. They must live within the single nation of Azerbaijan. There is no mechanism that can separate Nagorno Karabakh from Azerbaijan today or in future. It was pointed out in the negotiations. In this case, I would like to say again that the last proposals can serve as a basis for an agreement. Armeniaâ€™s position showed once again that they donâ€™t want peace and they intend to trail out status quo as long as possible. They donâ€™t want to leave the occupied lands and they want to continue the occupation. They try to demonstrate that as if they are loyal to the negotiations and to prolong the negotiation process that it can get permanent characterâ€.

The President said Azerbaijan would never agree with that: â€œWe have stated many times that we will participate in the negotiations until the time that the real results can be achieved there. Azerbaijan shows maximum constructiveness and our greatest compromise is that Azerbaijan is loyal to the peace process while its lands are under the occupation for almost 20 years. Armenia broke the negotiation process many times using different ways, even committing terrorist attack inside the country. Despite that we always showed constructiveness and tried to solve the problem peacefully and to establish peace and cooperation in the region. It is true that no other problem can be solved in the region without solution to Armenia â€“ Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh, we have stated it many times and today it has been confirmed by the developments. It is so - not because Azerbaijan will protest that â€“ we are defending our national interests with all methods and we will do that, and we achieved successes in this field, - but because Armenia - Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh is the most serious negative actor effected on the regional processes. No any regional initiative is possible to be realized without solution of this problem and without participation of Azerbaijan. This is a reality of the region. Azerbaijan played an exclusive role in creation of these realities. The policy we pursued in recent years, strengthening of our position in the region, establishing powerful state, our economic opportunities, economic, industrial and energy initiatives made Azerbaijan significantly stronger. No one can reject this regional factor. No one can put aside our interests and can realize isolation plans against us. The latest developments proved it once again. We will defend our national interests with all methods and we will continue our efforts towards large-scale cooperation in the region. The main factor of this large-scale cooperation is the solution to Armenia - Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh. We still donâ€™t see constructiveness from Armenia. They are continuing attempts to extend the time and to mislead the international mediators. Unfortunately some international organizations try to turn blind eye to their insincere behavior. They try as if to justify Armeniaâ€™s attempts to break off negotiations. Of course, it concerns us. The international community must respect its own decisionsâ€.

The head of state said Azerbaijani lands were under the occupation for long years and ethnic cleansing policy was pursued against Azerbaijani people. â€œOur cultural, religious and historic monuments were destroyed. All material wealth of Azerbaijan was looted in the occupied territories. Armenian thieves have stolen historic exhibits from our museums. Our mosques were ruined by the Armenian vandals. We cannot endure such cruelty and injustice. Therefore our meeting today has particular significant. Azerbaijan is attaching great attention to the defense as it develops other spheres too. It is natural approach because Azerbaijan is at war. The war has not ended. The first stage of war was finished. We have to do so that we can liberate our lands by military wayâ€.

The President emphasized that Azerbaijan made very successful steps towards all directions. â€œWe have reached leading position in the world for our economic indexes over the last 5-6 years. A great work is done in the field of economic reforms. We are conducting political reforms. There is stability and tranquility in the country. All freedoms exist in Azerbaijan. The country is developing comprehensively and dynamically. The innovative work is done in the regions. There is no need to enumerate the infrastructure projects and other activities. The great work is done in the field of army-building. Our defense expenditures were increased for more than then times in the past 5-6 years. Resources allocated for the army were increased for more than ten times. The military preparedness is in a high level. There is enthusiasm in the army and all armed forces. Large technical equipments and ammunitions were purchased in the recent years. This process is continued and it is our natural right. I stated several years ago that we have to do so that our military expenditures can be equal to all expenditures of Armenia. In that time there was big difference between these expenditures. But today â€“ in 2010 we could achieve it. We can spend resources for the military issues as much as we wantâ€.

The Supreme Commander-in-Chief said there was great difference between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the military, economic and other fields. â€œThis difference is increasing day by day and this gap is extending day by day. Today Azerbaijani Army is stronger and more professional than Armenian army. Armenian soldiers are passing into the Azerbaijani side. Their facts showed how bad condition Armenian army was. This mass movement is continuing and undoubtedly it will continue in future. Our military and economic opportunities are strengthened day by day. We are not depending on the assistances of anyone. Today Azerbaijan is one of the unique countries in the region that can live at own expense and the situation will be improved day by day. We are extending our financial opportunities and not depending on the assistances or loans of anyone. In such case, the difference between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the economic, army-building and demographic fields will be deepened further. Azerbaijani population increases in Azerbaijan year by year and 9 000 000th citizen of Azerbaijan was born this year. But demographic situation in Armenia is worsening year by year. Natural decrease and migration from Armenia extended. The situation is so today in 2010. We know that Armenian army has no enough personnel to defend the line of contact. Some measures declared in that country recently showed how bad condition they are. They increase age limit for mobilizing people. Their personnel can not be compared with the human potential of Azerbaijan. This is important issue and superiority is on our side. We have superiority in other fields tooâ€.

The President of Azerbaijan focused attention on rapid development of defense industry as well. â€œHuge resources are allocated to this field. Many plants were built in recent years. The modern technical equipments are produced in Azerbaijan. We have very large plans for future. We would like to produce all necessary arms and ammunitions in Azerbaijan. So we can reduce our dependence on import. Despite that we have no problem to purchase ammunitions. This process will be continued. I want to say that despite insincere behavior of Armenia, we are still positively approaching the negotiation process and expecting response from Armenia. If the last proposals are accepted the work on peace agreement can be started. If the proposals are not accepted the negotiation process should be reviewed again. Of course, Azerbaijan will show adequate position towards the situation to be createdâ€.