PanARMENIAN.Net

Azerbaijan spends its oil dollars on buying weapons

The Azerbaijani authorities, who keep declaring their military
superiority over Armenia, realize that without Turkey’s military
assistance they will be unable to try to `restore control’ over the
territories bordering to Nagorno-Karabakh. 24.07.2008 GMT+04:00

Russian magazine Moscow Defense Brief published the list of reported
deliveries of military equipment to Azerbaijan in 2000`2007. Whatever
we say, the list is rather impressive and it seems as though
Azerbaijan is going to fight against the whole region. Shortly after
the publication Defense Minister of Azerbaijan hurried to disclaim the
statement, naturally, shifting the blame onto the «Armenian
intrigues».

/PanA RMENIAN.Net/ In 2007 Azerbaijan signed a contract with the
Arzamas Machine Building Plant for delivery in 2008 of a few Russian
BTR-90 and 70 BTR-80A. One of the conditions of the agreement reached
in 2002 over the status of the Gabalina radar station was the
provision of military assistance to modernize Azerbaijan’s air force
and air defense systems, train the Azeri military in Russia, and
provide repair services for military equipment. Turkey provided the
greatest amount of aid, reaching a total of 170 million USD in
2005. According to Undersecretary for Defense Industry of Turkey Murad
Bayar, Ankara is presently considering the possibility of producing
new tanks in the territory of Azerbaijan for the Armed Forces of both
countries. According to him, the appropriate agreement may be signed
between the defense authorities of the two countries in the current
month. `We can also join efforts in producing robot planes and
mine-detectors,’ the Minister added. In his words Turkey has also
suggested Azerbaijan modernization of T-72 tanks.

Besides Russia, Azerbaijan has also purchased small arms and modern
communications equipment from American and Israeli firms. And now it
is putting the emphasis on acquiring new aviation equipment for its
air force. In 2005 Azerbaijan signed a contract with the Ukraine for
the delivery of twelve MiG-29 fighters, two MiG-29UB aircraft, and
twelve L-39 training aircraft. It bought twelve Su-25 assault planes
(probably Czech) and one Su-27UB from Georgia. Negotiations with the
Ukraine for the acquisition of Su-27 fighters and Su-25 assault planes
have also been reported, along with modernization in the Ukraine of
Azeri Mi-24 combat helicopters by the South African ATE Company’s
Super Hind Mk-III program. Besides, Azerbaijan is reportedly looking
forward to acquiring new Chinese FC-1 light fighters.

According to the list provided by Moscow Defense Brief, Azerbaijan
acquired 106 T-72 main battle tanks from the Ukraine, Belarus,
Slovakia, Bulgaria and Georgia in the years of 2002-2006. The list
shows that Ukraine holds the first position in delivering military
equipment to Baku, which is not surprising, as still in the time of
war Kiev used to provide the Azerbaijani Army not only with military
equipment, but also with pilots and snipers. What is quite surprising
the list also includes patrol cutters: in 2000 one AB-25 patrol cutter
was bought from Turkey, in 2003 another Point patrol cutter Azerbaijan
acquired from the USA, two Small patrol cutters were delivered from
the USA and another 30 from Turkey in the period of 2001-2005. The
cutters are assigned for the Caspian Sea and, in all probability, will
«protect» the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea
against Turkmenistan and Iran, from whose territory Baku pumps
oil. However, these are particulars that cannot trouble
Azerbaijan. The oil revenues are still enough for part of them to
avoid Aliyev’s clan. How much longer can Baku «flourish»
with majority of its population starving? In all probability Baku
prepares his citizens for war in order to stay away from protests. It
is a well-proved practice, but sometimes results prove to be opposite.

Meanwhile, as usual, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry shifts its
blames onto others. `The information on acquired Azerbaijani military
equipment published in the Russian press is distortion of truth. The
Azerbaijani Defense Ministry considers it misinformation dreamed up by
pro-Armenian Mass Media in Russia. Such articles are part of the
information war, whose aim is to outline Azerbaijan as an aggressive
country,’ declared the Defense Minister of Azerbaijan at a press
conference. However, Baku overlooked something: Moscow Defense Brief
is a serious magazine and publishes only truthful information. And the
fact that Azerbaijan is an aggressor is already a widely known
secret. At the beginning of the year Stockholm Institute for Strategic
Studies noted that Georgia and Azerbaijan are the countries with the
highest military spending. Moreover, the figures provided by the
Russian magazine are even reduced ` in fact, Azerbaijan possesses more
military equipment. Anyway, all these figures confirm that Baku is not
determined to come to a peaceful settlement on the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict and sets hopes on the power and assistance of Turkey. In the
words of Russian expert Alexey Makarkin the Azerbaijani authorities,
who keep declaring their military superiority over Armenia, realize
that without Turkey’s military assistance they will be unable to try
to `bring back under their control’ the territories bordering to
Nagorno-Karabakh.

«PanARMENIAN.Net& #xC2;» analytical department