New military facilities open in Azerbaijan

/By AzerNews/

By Mushvig Mehdiyev

New facilities for the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry have been commissioned as part of the state policy to improve the country's military capacity.

Defense Minister, Zakir Hasanov and Senior Deputy Defense Minister, Chief of Staff of the Army, Najmaddin Sadigov attended in person the opening of the central food base and the auxiliary facilities of the base, on March 18.

The top military officials also cut the red ribbon of the second administrative building of the Main Directorate of the Defense Ministry's Logistics Office.

Viewing the conditions created in the new facilities, Colonel-General Hasanov appreciated highly the novelties.

The new bath and laundry facilities, and 1,440 square meters storehouse were the next newly built facilities viewed by the top military officers.

Familiarizing himself with the construction work in the new military town, Hasanov gave appropriate instructions and recommendations to facilitate the work. The modern quarters are being built in the town alongside the necessary infrastructure.

Army building is under special focus in Azerbaijan as Supreme Commander in Chief, Ilham Aliyev keeps this issue under his constant attention. The opening of new military facilities took place under the impetus of President Aliyev as he ordered a broad refurbishment and expansion military program.

Azerbaijan attaches great attention and importance to the improvement and modernization of its army's capabilities, including combat efficiency level both in terms of defense and attack operations.

Both national and international reports on Azerbaijan's military have confirmed that Baku has increased its military focus, looking to further strengthen the role of its armed forces.

The most recent report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute confirmed that Azerbaijan's arms imports rose by 249 percent between the periods of 2005-2009 and 2010-2014.

In view of arms imports, Azerbaijan is the second largest importer in Europe with 13 percent indicator between the periods of 2005-2009 and 2010-2014, being behind the United Kingdom, who is the top supplier of weapons with 14 percent rate.

Azerbaijan, which lost 20 percent of its territory to Armenian military occupation in the 1990s has boosted its military in view of liberating its lands. It has set this mission as a top priority for 2015.

Armenia fought a lengthy war against Azerbaijan in the early 1990s. The conflict claimed the lives of hundreds of ethnic Azerbaijanis. Armenia keeps under control one fifth of Azerbaijan territory and caused over a million of Azerbaijanis to live as IDPs and refugees in their homeland.

Regular incursions against Azerbaijan on the contact line by Armenia represent a threat Azerbaijan armed forces have had to constantly manage.

Although the international community has stepped in, trying to broker a fair resolution to the conflict, Armenia has proven to be unresponsive.

Azerbaijan however has shown exemplary tolerance and commitment towards peace, especially in the light of ongoing Armenian acts of sabotage. That being said, Azerbaijan reserves the right to use military force against Armenia should the need arise.