Ilham Aliyev: Azerbaijan�s Military Expenditures Grow 15 Times

Baku / 26.06.18 / Turan: Nagorno-Karabakh is the ancestral land of Azerbaijan, which is recognized by all international organizations and countries. In the early 1990s, Armenia, with the support of external patrons, used internal destabilization in Azerbaijan and occupied the country's territories, President Ilham Aliyev stated, opening a military parade in Baku dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armed Forces of the country.

"Azerbaijan will restore its territorial integrity and for this purpose take all the necessary measures in the field of army construction and economic development.

The construction of the armed forces is the country's top priority. Since 2003 our military expenditures have grown 15 times.

80% of the military towns and units have been built anew or overhauled. The army is equipped with the most modern types of weapons. The military industry is developing. In recent years, up to 20 enterprises of the Military-Industrial Complex have been built.

We have bought a large number of weapons and today only a small part of them will be shown. These are systems of armaments of air defense, air force, navy, armored troops, antiaircraft artillery, etc.

We are armed, as international norms are not met and the determining factor is the factor of power, not right. We need all this potential for the liberation of the occupied territories.

We will continue to purchase new types of weapons and on this account we have clear agreements with partner countries.

The fighting spirit and readiness of our army remain high, which was confirmed in April 2016. Then we liberated part of the occupied lands. We defeated the myth of the invincibility of the Armenian army.

Last month, an operation was conducted in Nakhchivan and a significant territory was liberated. Strategic heights were liberated and we control strategic enemy transport communications.

The army is ready at any time to fulfill the task of the complete liberation of the occupied territories. The enemy must know that he does not have any important military facility that is not under the gun's sight and that it will be destroyed at any moment.

Armenia cannot and will not be able to compete with us on military and economic potential. The sooner this is understood in Armenia, the better.

We are approaching the day when our flags will be raised in Karabakh and brought here to the military parade," Aliyev said. -02B-