DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
September 21, 2005, Wednesday

PRESIDENT ILKHAM ALIYEV OF AZERBAIJAN HELD A MEETING CONCERNING
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION ISSUES

President Ilkham Aliyev of Azerbaijan held a meeting concerning
military construction issues in the Defense Ministry on September 16.
Aliyev focused on successes in the development of the Armed Forces
and appreciated servicemen’s skills and the quality of logistics
supply. He said that the republic focuses on military construction
issues because part of its territory is invaded by a foreign army.

Azerbaijan allocated $175 million on defense in 2004, $300 million in
2005, and plans to spend $600 million in 2006. This is not the limit.
(…)

Aliyev said, “I have set a task to make the military budget of
Azerbaijan equal to Armenia’s military budget.” He noted that Armenia
and some international organizations are concerned about the increase
of defense spending in Azerbaijan. Aliyev said, “In the meantime, we
are concerned about Russia’s decision to relocate its military
hardware from Georgia to Armenia. We are concerned about military
exercises conducted in Armenia. We have increased our military budget
because Russia illegally shipped military hardware worth $1 billion
to Armenia in the mid-1990s. This is why we will continue making
adequate moves.” (…)