Azerbaijan has purchased from Ukraine and Belarus mortars produced
during the Great Patriotic War

Regnum, Russia
Aug. 26, 2006

"The Azerbaijani army has got into very sad situation," independent
analyst Levon Melik-Shakhnazaryan stated on August 25 during his
press conference in Yerevan.

According to him, Azerbaijan’s statements on its budget’s increase
should not frighten Armenia. "Azerbaijan purchased armaments for
$900mln, which is nothing else but scrap metal. They bought tanks for
$1,200,000, mortars, produced in 1941, cars, which are written of by
Russian army, etc." the analyst maintains, adding that "according to
some date, 5,000 servicemen die annually in Azerbaijan." According
to Mr. Melik-Shakhnasaryan, "none of Caucasian Turks is now at power
in Azerbaijan." "Mainly Kurds, Lezgins govern Azerbaijan now, trying
to maintain the stable situation," he stressed.

"Azerbaijan has lost hope to settle Karabakh conflict in military
way," the analyst resumed. However, according to him, Armenia should
use time in its own interests. "Armenia should strengthen its army,
in order to be ready to settle conflict in military way, during the
period of lull," he stressed.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress