MFA SPOKESMAN: AZERBAIJAN WILL REQUIRE 10-15 YEARS TO BEGIN TO CHALLENGE ARMENIA’S ARMED FORCES

armradio.am
18.01.2008 10:55

According to Azerbaijani sources Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
stated that there could be no comparison between Armenia and Azerbaijan
in the area of economic development and reputation on the international
scene. Asked by Aminfo news agency to comment on the statements of the
Azerbaijani President, Vladimir Karapetian, Spokesperson of Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, responded:

"Judging from the volume and tone of comments from Azerbaijan’s
President, there is a clear sense of desperation in Azerbaijan. After
all, on all fronts, without any exception, Azerbaijan is either behind
the international standard or going against prevailing international
trends.

First, there is panic with regard to the international community’s
increasing understanding with regard to issues of self-determination.

Second, on economic and social issues, Azerbaijan’s rankings are
problematic. In an unfortunate coincidence for him, the President’s
comments about their economic strength and their statebuilding
achievements came on the heels of three different reputable intl
indices which demonstrate that there is reason for the panic, and that
the President’s comments are simply aimed at misleading his public.

The Heritage Foundation Wall Street Journal’s Economic Freedom Index
has Armenia at 28th, near the top, while Azerbaijan is 107 out of
162 countries rated.

In the Freedom House rankings of the democratic standings of states,
Armenia is considered Partly Free, while Azerbaijan remains Not Free,
as in years past.

The Foreign Policy Index of Failed States, in a study of 177 countries,
Armenia places 50 places above Azerbaijan.

There is hardly an international index, including those of Human
rights and Freedom of Speech, where Azerbaijan’s ranking even
approaches Armenia’s. Furthermore, according to World Bank data,
despite Azerbaijan’s enormous resources, they have barely caught up
with Armenia’s per capita income.

Finally, with all their rhetoric on military strength, experts predict
that, at this rate of growth and military buildup, Azerbaijan will
require 10-15 years to begin to challenge Armenia’s armed forces.

Given all this, these baseless Azerbaijani statements simply offer
their own population false information thus diverting them from the
real challenges that they face."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress