AZERBAIJAN INCREASED THE MILITARY EXPENSES 6.5 TIMES IN FOUR YEARS

AZG Armenian Daily
16/05/2007

Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiev has announced about an action
plan on military cooperation concluded between Azerbaijani Armed Forces
and US European Command, "Azeri press agency" reports. According to the
report of "Forecast International" organization, Azerbaijan increases
its military expenses planning to spend 871 M dollars in 2007, instead
of 135 M dollars in 2003. The organization says, that Azerbaijan must
accelerate the military reforms; otherwise it will not be able to join
NATO, and it also speaks of not being ready to integration into NATO".

In spite of this report, the headquarters of Azerbaijani Armed Forces
announce about the conformity of their Air and Naval Forces with
NATO system.