AZERI MINISTRY DENIES RUSSIAN REPORT ON ARMS PROCUREMENT DRIVE

Azad Azarbaycan TV
July 24 2008
Baku

Text of report by Azerbaijani private TV station ATV on 24 July
[Presenter] Reports published in Russia’s Moscow Defence Brief
magazine about arms that Azerbaijan purchased between 2000-2007 are
not true. A source at the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry press service
told "Son Xabar" that by circulating these kinds of reports, pro-
Armenian forces aim to divert the international community’s attention
from Armenia which is building up its armament.

[Correspondent over archive footage of the 26 June military parade]
Russia’s Moscow Defence Brief magazine has published a list of military
hardware that Azerbaijan purchased between 2000-07. It is noted in
the magazine that Turkey allocated 170m dollars in military aid to
Azerbaijan in 2005. Azerbaijan also obtains small arms and modern
equipment from the US and Israeli firms on the basis of commercial
deals. Azerbaijan signed an agreement with Ukraine on the purchase of
12 MiG-29 fighter jets, two MiG-29 UB and 12 E-39 jets in 2005. Under
a bilateral agreement, Azerbaijan will buy from Russia several BTR-90
S and 70 BTR-80 A [armoured personnel carriers] in 2008.

According to the list, Azerbaijan bought 106 T-72 tanks between
2002-06. Our country bought two more BMP-1 military hardware from
Ukraine in 2005; 36 pieces of 130-mm projectiles from Ukraine and
72 pieces of 100-mm anti-tank projectiles from Bulgaria in 2002; 12
pieces of 9RK58 Smerch multiple-launch rocket systems in 2004-05. It
is claimed in the list that Azerbaijan bought dozens of such weapons
from Turkey, Georgia and Ukraine.

A source at the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry press service told "Son
Xabar" that these reports were not true. The press service stressed
that by outlining the strengthening of armament in Azerbaijan,
numerous pro-Armenian forces functioning in Russia actually want to
divert the international community’s attention from Armenia, which
is building up its military. The ministry said that the figures in
the magazine were exaggerated and noted that they were absolutely
wide of the mark. Ulviyya Aliyeva, "Son Xabar".