AZERBAIJAN ABLE TO LIBERATE OCCUPIED LANDS VIA MILITARY MEANS

news.az
June 13 2011
Azerbaijan

News.Az interviews Fazil Mustafa, member of the Milli Majlis, the
parliament of Azerbaijan.

You recently visited the contact line of Azerbaijani-Armenian troops
and also a military unit where tactical military exercises were
being held. What impressions do you have about defense capability of
Azerbaijani army?

We witnessed high combat readiness of soldiers and officers of
the Azerbaijani army and their high precision shooting in the
exercises. I had no idea to what degree military technology has
changed in Azerbaijani army. It has become modern.

In addition, conditions have improved not only for military personnel
stationed in barracks, but also for soldiers and officers on combat
duty in trenches on the front lines. Along with this, there is
sufficient progress in providing soldiers with food and in matters
of military training. All these point to serious reforms in military
system.

Of course, there have been some negative instances lately.

But I do not think that they influence mood in the army and the level
of combat readiness. There are great number of soldiers and officers
who perform their service in an exemplary manner. During the visit
I was also eager to learn about management of modern technology by
military men, the relationship between them and their use of radio
communication.

I repeat that I was surprised at high training on all these
parameters. Given all this, I think there are positive changes in
the Azerbaijani army.

What do you think about defese capability of the Azerbaijani army? Are
military men able to stop the advance of enemy troops?

Of course, we witnessed high moral and physical will in military
personnel necessary to repulse enemy attacks.

Those Armenian politicians, who constantly threaten that Azerbaijan
will loose a certain part of its territory if it launches the war,
say this under the pressure of their foreign backers. In reality,
it is hard to imagine that Armenia, which experiences difficulties
in all areas, will win the war. Therefore, I consider it important to
pay attention on what country or countries Armenia relies while making
such rhetoric. Armenia is unable to stand the pressure from Azerbaijan.

Is Azerbaijan ready to liberate its land from political, economic
and military view point?

Azerbaijan is able to liberate the occupied lands from the military
viewpoint. However, from a political viewpoint, there is a need to
neutralize the resistance from international forces to liberation of
occupied territories by military means.

The reason is that in today’s world it is no longer about a war
between two states. We are talking about countries patronizing
Armenia. Azerbaijan’s relations with these forces will spoil once
the war resumes.

Thus, the war is conducted not only on battlefield, but also on
diplomatic front. In this regard, without success on diplomatic front,
the victory on battlefield will be problematic to a certain degree.

Azerbaijan is ready to win on the battlefield. Now it now remains to
achieve the world recognition of Azerbaijan’s right to liberation of
the occupied territories.

How reasonable is Azerbaijan’s launching enterprises producing
military equipment?

Of course, there is need to produce certain types of ammunition,
such as cartridges. However, it would be a wrong step to create a
complete infrastructure for military production because it would be
a heavy burden on economy. Instead of this, the country needs to buy
arms from developed countries.

Because, no matter how hard Azerbaijan tries, it still will not be
able to improve it own advanced and sophisticated military hardware.

Moreover, even developed countries do not create a complete cycle of a
military production. In this regard, it is enough to look at the sad
experience of the former Soviet Union, which sought to independently
produce all kinds of products.

How efficient is the way recruitment for Azerbaijani army based on
universal conscription for many years?

It is difficult to move to a system configuration of the army while
maintaining the risk of renewed war.

In general, the transition to professional army can be carried out
gradually.

At first, you can transfer the mobile army units to a professional
basis. But anyway, I believe disruption of the regular army system
can not lead to positive results.

In addition, a sharp transition to army configuration on a professional
basis may cause negative public attitude towards the armed forces.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress