Baku Today, Azerbaijan
Aug 17 2005

President Promises to Increase Military Power

17/08/2005 14:55

President Ilham Aliyev says Azerbaijan’s military spending will continue to grow.

Addressing the ceremony dedicated to the 86th anniversary of frontier
guard troops on Tuesday, the President said that the country’s
military expenses have grown 76% this year to make up about $300
million. “I have issued instructions to ensure the growth will
continue next year.”

Aliyev noted that the government faces an objective to bring the
military spending figures to the overall budget of Armenia.

“Increasing military potential will affect the conflict settlement.

The Armenian leadership should understand that we will not yield our
land.”

The President added that Armenia is not able to compete with
Azerbaijan in the political, economic or military fields and the
difference ‘will be even greater in the future’.

Aliyev said that the country’s economic development allows a peaceful
settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno Karabakh conflict. He
termed strengthening of Azerbaijan’s national army as an important
factor in this respect.

Aliyev emphasized that Azerbaijan is pursuing an ‘open-door’ policy.

Its borders are a key condition for the independence of the state’,
he said.

“Those trying to enter the country with bad intentions should know
that our state borders are strongly protected.”

On Monday, the President awarded a group of frontier guards with
military ranks and medals on the occasion of the mentioned holiday.