Baku Today, Azerbaijan
July 11 2005

Internal Troops of Azerbaijan Getting Stronger

Baku Today / Turan 11/07/2005 09:21

In his interview to Russian Military-Industrial Courier weekly,
General Zakir Hasanov, Commander of Azerbaijan Internal Troops said,
the Internal Troops is getting stronger every year and is able to
protect Azerbaijanis from violation of stability.
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Duties of the Internal Troops are stipulated in the law on status of
internal troops passed in 1994. The troops are obliged to safeguard
security of important state objects, ensure public order, prevent
mass disturbances and detain convicts that fled places of
confinement.

Asked about possibility of “color revolution” and mass disturbances
in Azerbaijan, Hasanov answered: “We welcome solution to all the
questions within the framework of law. Undoubtedly, we will take
necessary measures, in case of violation of stability in Azerbaijan.
We will prevent any destructive actions, disturbances or violation of
law.”

General said during the past two years state budget’s allocations to
internal troops’ logistics increased by 40% every year. This year
budget totaled 81 billion manat, more than $16 million. Majority of
the funds are spent for technical supply, special equipment and arms.
Full set of one soldier of special troops costs $2,000-3,000, said
commander.

Questioned if peacekeeping troops are created in internal troops,
Hasanov answered that NATO intends to create a big peacekeeping
structure. The Azerbaijani side has proposed to create a peacekeeping
company in Internal Troops until 2008. The proposal has been agreed
with NATO and in the future Azerbaijani peacekeepers of Internal
Troops will take part in large-scale international actions, he said.

Asked if it could take part in military activities in Karabakh,
commander said “we will prefer the tactic of attack” in case of war.
For this purpose we pay more attention to combat training. To make
military exercises more efficient, commander-in-chief has provided a
territory in Baku outskirts, where “climatic conditions are similar
to those in Karabakh.”

“Internal Troops have great possibilities and we will be able to
resolve several important tasks during the course of war. Special
troops are always ready to provide an efficient support to the army.
In addition, our motorized regiments could protect important state
objects and keep order at the rear,” said Hasanov.