AZERI PRESIDENT SAYS COUNTRY WILL CONTINUE DEFENSE BUILDUP

RIA Novosti, Russia
Oct 5 2005

BAKU, October 5 (RIA Novosti, Gerai Dadashev) – Azeri President Ilkham
Aliyev said Wednesday that his government would continue building up
the nation’s defense capabilities.

“We have to enhance our military potential as our lands are under
occupation,” Aliyev said during a tour of the National Guards’ new
headquarters. He said the government had increased defense spending
to $300 million this year, up from $175 million in 2004, and would
bring it to $600 million in 2006.

Aliyev said the negotiations with Armenia over the disputed region
of Nagorny Karabakh had so far failed to yield any positive effect,
meaning that having a strong army was of great importance to
Azerbaijan.

He said the National Guards were instrumental in maintaining stability
in the country and ensuring the security of regional pipelines.