EX-DEFENCE MINISTER OF RA SEES NO CONNECTION BETWEEN INCREASE OF AZERBAIJAN’S MILITARY BUDGET AND IMPROVEMENT OF ITS ARMY’S FIGHTING EFFICIENCY

Noyan Tapan
Apr 06 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Azerbaijan’s statements about increase
of its military budget up to 600 mln USD are made for the purpose of
exerting pressure upon the Armenian leadership in order to compel it
to make concessions in the issue of Karabakh settlement. Vagharshak
Haroutiunian, member of the National Rebirth party’s political board,
Ex-Defence Minister of Armenia, declared this in his interview to
Noyan Tapan correspondent. In his opinion, there are many factors in
the issue, how much the increase of Azerbaijan’s military budget can
influence the fighting efficiency of its army. Thus, according to the
Ex-Defence Minister, we should take into consideration the fact that
the navy is also included in the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan. And this
type of troops requires considerable expenditures from the military
budget. “While, it is quite obvious that the Azerbaijani navy does
not pose any danger for Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh,” Vagharshak
Haroutiunian declared. Another important factor in the issue of
impact of the military budget on the fighting efficiency is the
international commitments, in particular, the “Agreement on Limitation
of Conventional Armaments in Europe” envisaging limitations in the
main types of armaments without exceeding which, in the opinion of the
Ex-Defence Minister, Azerbaijan cannot achieve military superiority
over Armenia. “These are unsubstantiated and senseless statements. The
Armenian Armed Forces are able to defend Armenia and the Armed Forces
of Artsakh to defend Artsakh. And it is Azerbaijan’s military budget
that will not permit it to gain a victory thanks to blitzkrieg in
the coming years,” Vagharshak Haroutiunian declared.