Uzeir Jafarov: “The Armed Forces of Azerbaijan are supplied with all they need”

Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Gasanov made a speech to graduates of the Higher Military School for the upcoming Day of the Armed Forces marked on June 26. The minister emphasized that the country had a fully-prepared army to accomplish any mission, including liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh territories. He noted that military expenditure had increased 20-fold in the last years, allowing the military and their equipment to be modernized and training of officers to be improved. 253 Azerbaijani soldiers are training abroad. Teachers at military education centers improve their skills in NATO and Middle Eastern countries. The minister noted that the modernization had changed the balance of power in Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas. VK has interviewed military expert Uzeir Jafarov about the developments.

 

- What has been done in the last years to strengthen the defensive potential of Azerbaijan?

 

- The modern Azerbaijani Armed Forces are not the army we had, let’s say, in the times of the first Karabakh War. Back then, Azerbaijan was forming an army simultaneously with combat on the frontline. A lot has been done since the signing of the ceasefire agreement in 1994. Of course, sometimes we criticize certain nuances, but we understand where we have work and there are always flaws and problems. We would certainly want to minimize such problems. Why? Because it is the Armed Forces that protect the security and sovereignty of Azerbaijan today. The Azerbaijani Armed Forces are supplied with all the necessary weapons and equipment today. Azerbaijan is one of the first in the UN registry. Although we have slightly descended in the table in the last few years, it is because we have supplied the army with all it needs. We got modern tanks, artillery systems, jets, combat helicopters. We have also purchased the Favorit anti-missile system in Russia. Last year, it was demonstrated on the central square during a military parade. Generally, the weapons Azerbaijan possesses are sufficient for the Armed Forces to accomplish any mission. The only goal is to protect the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Until recently, Azerbaijan has made no claims or ambitions regarding neighbours or nearby territories, and Azerbaijan has no such plans. Thank God we have normal relations with Russia and our southern neighbour Iran. We have close contacts with Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan on maritime boundaries. In one word, the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan today are ready to accomplish their goal.

 

- What is the potential of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces?

 

- Yesterday, during the speech at the Heydar Aliyev Military School where young offices graduated, the defense minister said that Azerbaijan was planning to expand its military potential and cooperation with other states. Today, Azerbaijani officers are represented, if I am not mistaken, in 24 countries as military attaches and representatives of Azerbaijan. Today Azerbaijan is fully represented at NATO headquarters. As far as I know, the number of officers there will grow from 7 to 10 this year. In other words, Azerbaijan pays special attention to cooperation with NATO, and we have close contacts with many countries. In particular, Azerbaijan has great economic, cultural and other ties with Israel. We have been having close military ties with Israel in recent years and, thank God, it benefits both countries. The products produced from cooperation between Azerbaijani and Israeli specialists are presented at many international exhibitions today. Azerbaijan has good relations with Russia too. In my opinion, the contacts that Azerbaijan and Russia have formed in recent months give reason to say that we will most likely see bigger opportunities for cooperation between Russian and Azerbaijani military specialists in the very near future. Rounding up, Azerbaijan and Turkey, as well as Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia, will hold joint military drills at a military range of one of the three countries in 2014. By the way, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces started joint drills yesterday. The Defense Ministry, Interior and Border Forces are taking part in them. The drills are being held at the central range, where NATO drills were organized, dedicated to the Day of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.

 

- What military equipment does Azerbaijan prefer to buy?

 

- Azerbaijan has been buying T-90S tanks in Russia in recent years. The deal was made in 2011. Russia will send the final military vehicles this year. We have already shipped Mi-35 helicopters from Rostov to Azerbaijan, to Baku. They have already been manned by the border service and the Defense Ministry. The Smerch salvo missile and artillery systems enforcing security in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic have been purchased in Russia. The purchased weapons and vehicles include Israeli small arms, medical and communication equipment. Azerbaijan has many opportunities today, and they are gradually being realized. In my opinion, we would likely see in 2014 that the Azerbaijani Armed Forces would modernize equipment left from the USSR times in other sectors. Of course, Azerbaijan pays special attention to enforcing security in the Caspian Sea. You know that Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran have been improving their military potential in recent years. Azerbaijan pays special attention to enforcing security in the Caspian Sea as a country with maritime boundaries.

 

About 4 billion manats were granted from the state budget for military needs and security this year. Of course, the funds will not only be spent on the needs of the Defense Ministry. Big funds are granted for the needs of the defense industry. We have military equipment demonstrated in Turkey, Malaysia and, if I am not mistaken, in Kazakhstan. An exhibition of military equipment will also be organized in Azerbaijan in September. The country will demonstrate advanced military equipment produced in Baku there. Azerbaijan is fully supplying itself with bullets for small arms today. Azerbaijan has started manufacturing the Matador and Marauder heavy armored vehicles. Both have already been tested by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. Armored vehicles with a reinforced hull floor for protection from mines are produced today. A lot is being done today. The Azerbaijani military industry in Azerbaijan has made great achievements in a short period. There is joint production with Turkish specialists and South Africa. There are many plans. As far as I am concerned, the Defense Industry Minister, Mister Yaver Jamalov, said that 600 military products we being produced. It is a very big, serious figure. And I am fully confident that Azerbaijan realizes that the military industry has always been a very lucrative sector. That is why money is invested in it. In some time, all the money will return to the budget of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Gasanov made a speech to graduates of the Higher Military School for the upcoming Day of the Armed Forces marked on June 26. The minister emphasized that the country had a fully-prepared army to accomplish any mission, including liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh territories. He noted that military expenditure had increased 20-fold in the last years, allowing the military and their equipment to be modernized and training of officers to be improved. 253 Azerbaijani soldiers are training abroad. Teachers at military education centers improve their skills in NATO and Middle Eastern countries. The minister noted that the modernization had changed the balance of power in Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas. VK has interviewed military expert Uzeir Jafarov about the developments.- What has been done in the last years to strengthen the defensive potential of Azerbaijan?- The modern Azerbaijani Armed Forces are not the army we had, let’s say, in the times of the first Karabakh War. Back then, Azerbaijan was forming an army simultaneously with combat on the frontline. A lot has been done since the signing of the ceasefire agreement in 1994. Of course, sometimes we criticize certain nuances, but we understand where we have work and there are always flaws and problems. We would certainly want to minimize such problems. Why? Because it is the Armed Forces that protect the security and sovereignty of Azerbaijan today. The Azerbaijani Armed Forces are supplied with all the necessary weapons and equipment today. Azerbaijan is one of the first in the UN registry. Although we have slightly descended in the table in the last few years, it is because we have supplied the army with all it needs. We got modern tanks, artillery systems, jets, combat helicopters. We have also purchased the Favorit anti-missile system in Russia. Last year, it was demonstrated on the central square during a military parade. Generally, the weapons Azerbaijan possesses are sufficient for the Armed Forces to accomplish any mission. The only goal is to protect the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Until recently, Azerbaijan has made no claims or ambitions regarding neighbours or nearby territories, and Azerbaijan has no such plans. Thank God we have normal relations with Russia and our southern neighbour Iran. We have close contacts with Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan on maritime boundaries. In one word, the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan today are ready to accomplish their goal.- What is the potential of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces?- Yesterday, during the speech at the Heydar Aliyev Military School where young offices graduated, the defense minister said that Azerbaijan was planning to expand its military potential and cooperation with other states. Today, Azerbaijani officers are represented, if I am not mistaken, in 24 countries as military attaches and representatives of Azerbaijan. Today Azerbaijan is fully represented at NATO headquarters. As far as I know, the number of officers there will grow from 7 to 10 this year. In other words, Azerbaijan pays special attention to cooperation with NATO, and we have close contacts with many countries. In particular, Azerbaijan has great economic, cultural and other ties with Israel. We have been having close military ties with Israel in recent years and, thank God, it benefits both countries. The products produced from cooperation between Azerbaijani and Israeli specialists are presented at many international exhibitions today. Azerbaijan has good relations with Russia too. In my opinion, the contacts that Azerbaijan and Russia have formed in recent months give reason to say that we will most likely see bigger opportunities for cooperation between Russian and Azerbaijani military specialists in the very near future. Rounding up, Azerbaijan and Turkey, as well as Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia, will hold joint military drills at a military range of one of the three countries in 2014. By the way, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces started joint drills yesterday. The Defense Ministry, Interior and Border Forces are taking part in them. The drills are being held at the central range, where NATO drills were organized, dedicated to the Day of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.- What military equipment does Azerbaijan prefer to buy?- Azerbaijan has been buying T-90S tanks in Russia in recent years. The deal was made in 2011. Russia will send the final military vehicles this year. We have already shipped Mi-35 helicopters from Rostov to Azerbaijan, to Baku. They have already been manned by the border service and the Defense Ministry. The Smerch salvo missile and artillery systems enforcing security in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic have been purchased in Russia. The purchased weapons and vehicles include Israeli small arms, medical and communication equipment. Azerbaijan has many opportunities today, and they are gradually being realized. In my opinion, we would likely see in 2014 that the Azerbaijani Armed Forces would modernize equipment left from the USSR times in other sectors. Of course, Azerbaijan pays special attention to enforcing security in the Caspian Sea. You know that Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran have been improving their military potential in recent years. Azerbaijan pays special attention to enforcing security in the Caspian Sea as a country with maritime boundaries.About 4 billion manats were granted from the state budget for military needs and security this year. Of course, the funds will not only be spent on the needs of the Defense Ministry. Big funds are granted for the needs of the defense industry. We have military equipment demonstrated in Turkey, Malaysia and, if I am not mistaken, in Kazakhstan. An exhibition of military equipment will also be organized in Azerbaijan in September. The country will demonstrate advanced military equipment produced in Baku there. Azerbaijan is fully supplying itself with bullets for small arms today. Azerbaijan has started manufacturing the Matador and Marauder heavy armored vehicles. Both have already been tested by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. Armored vehicles with a reinforced hull floor for protection from mines are produced today. A lot is being done today. The Azerbaijani military industry in Azerbaijan has made great achievements in a short period. There is joint production with Turkish specialists and South Africa. There are many plans. As far as I am concerned, the Defense Industry Minister, Mister Yaver Jamalov, said that 600 military products we being produced. It is a very big, serious figure. And I am fully confident that Azerbaijan realizes that the military industry has always been a very lucrative sector. That is why money is invested in it. In some time, all the money will return to the budget of the Republic of Azerbaij