AZERBAIJANI MILITARY EXPERT: REDUCED MILITARY BUDGET HAS IMPACTED ARMENIA’S PRIORITIES

Today
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March 12 2010
Azerbaijan

"Armenia no longer needs change in number of its armament," Azerbaijani
military expert Uzeyir Jafarov said.

He was commenting on a statement Armenian Defense Minister Seyran
Ohanyan made during joint military exercises with NATO that Armenia
will focus not on quantitative, but qualitative change in country’s
armament.

"This statement is understandable, since Armenia has sufficient volume
of old weapons. Armenia has received weapons through legitimate and
often illegal means at various times. We all remember Russia’s supply
of military equipment worth $1 billion to Armenia. China has also
delivered arms to Armenia claming that it was supplied by commercial
organizations," the military expert said.

"For all these reasons, Armenia no longer needs quantitative changes
in its armament. Therefore, Armenian army holds frequent military
exercises to write off their old weapons. Reduction in the country’s
military budget has influenced Armenia’s priorities. Since Armenia’s
budget has shrunk and it can not buy a large volume of weapons,
it is concerned with increasing military budget of Azerbaijan,"
the expert added.

"Therefore, precisely this factor stands behind false allegations
that Armenia does not intend to participate in an arms race. Thus,
Armenia wants to draw world attention to the arms of Azerbaijan,"
the expert noted.

"Azerbaijan’s military capabilities often undergo international
military inspections which show that it is consistent with what
Azerbaijan has declared unlike Armenia, which has purchased weapons
illegally. Apparently, the West has recommend Armenia to buy only
modern weapons on backdrop of country’s reducing military budget."

"With regard to joint military exercises with NATO, I would not
exaggerate importance of this event. Armenia is a dependent country,
so it is unlikely to be able to join this organization. Armenia has
the last place in NATO’s priorities in the South Caucasus. But, in
my personal opinion, Azerbaijan and Georgia will finally accede to
the Alliance which will make Armenia to start this long process,"
Jafarov said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress