Why Should Supply of Food to Army Be State Secret?

Baku / 24.12.20 / Turan: In a short time, by order of the Minister of Defense, several commissions consisting of specialists checked the accommodation and living conditions of personnel in military formations.

This was announced on December 23 by the Ministry of Defense, noting that as a result of comprehensive checks, systemic problems in support issues were not revealed: “Nevertheless, some minor deficiencies were identified, and the identified deficiencies were immediately eliminated. Some officials, who were negligent in the performance of their duties, made shortcomings, were punished, and appropriate measures were taken against them. "

The agency released this statement after allegations appeared on social media that servicemen serving in the liberated territories suffer from food shortages and poor conditions.

The ministry said in a statement that “in recent days, video frames have been circulating on social networks that undermine the authority of the Azerbaijani Army and darken our victory in the Patriotic War, and various biased comments have been purposefully written to them. Thus, in violation of the relevant requirements of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On State Secrets" information about our army is being disseminated, and unreliable news undermines the authority of our servicemen. "

The Ministry stressed that currently the Azerbaijani army has been deployed in the occupied, completely destroyed, destroyed, mined and lacking any infrastructure territories, in new places for almost 30 years: “Along with other state structures, the leadership of the Ministry of Defense carries out systematic and purposeful activities to improve the living conditions of servicemen deployed in these territories ... new roads are laid to military units, positions and posts, power lines, water supply and gas lines are being installed. "

The Ministry emphasized that servicemen are continuously provided with all types of support in accordance with the norms of food and clothing provision: “Tents, ovens and other necessary equipment are additionally delivered to units located in the desert. Organized a mobile bath and laundry service in various directions, the servicemen are provided with warm uniforms, bedding, high-quality food. The personnel of military units in mountainous areas are provided with high-calorie additional food rations in accordance with the norms. Along with this, there are sufficient stocks in the warehouses. "

Jasur Sumarinli, head of the Caspian Institute for Military Research, told Azadlig Radio that ugliness is being observed in the territories liberated from the occupation, and this must be taken into account.

“The process of creating new military units is underway. The territories that have already been transferred under the control of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan and other military structures are more extensive than before, and from this point of view, the construction of military infrastructure in these territories takes time, ”he said.

The military expert noted that food and medical problems are very serious: "It is unacceptable for them to arise. The Ministry of Defense has institutions responsible for providing, and their direct task is to provide them with food, medical services and conditions of stay where the armed forces are located."

Sumarinli believes that there is a possibility of corruption, and everything that happens should be thoroughly investigated.

"The Ministry of Defense has published information about the prosecution of several persons. I think this issue should be very seriously studied, why should an Azerbaijani soldier remain hungry, without medical care? Until when will the soldiers raise their problems on social networks and try to solve them? A soldier does not need to look for food, or a warm place to sleep. This is unacceptable for an army that wins and has such a large military budget, and has guarantees," he said.

The expert believes the Ministry of Defense is capable of solving all these problems in the next couple of weeks.

Sumarinli says that those responsible for procurement should take a responsible approach to their duties in order to avoid similar problems in the future: “There have always been problems in the defense sector of Azerbaijan in matters of supplies and tenders. These fields must be transparent. In addition, accountability must be ensured to society, media and non-governmental organizations, and parliament. In the event of any facts of bribery, corruption in this direction, the persons participating in this process should be punished. The leadership of the Ministry of Defense should pay attention to this; otherwise these problems will always arise”.

Nurlan Hasanov, a member of the Milli Majlis Committee on Defense, Security and Combating Corruption, told Turan that Azerbaijan is a country that has just emerged from the war, and there may be some minor flaws: “Some soldiers may have difficulties with food, but this does not mean that all of our military are suffering there financially or in food. No, this does not apply to all soldiers, it is just that some soldiers have this problem. And our state is trying to do everything possible to overcome these difficulties. "

Political analyst Nasimi Mammadli told Radio Azadlig that the army had problems with food supplies, and this became obvious after the end of hostilities: “There are both objective and subjective reasons. The objective side of the issue is that Azerbaijan has made significant progress along the previous line of contact, as a result of which objective problems with food supply have arisen. The lack of road infrastructure, barracks conditions there are natural and objective reasons. The subjective reason is that it has been repeatedly proven that the issues related to the actual supply of the army were not properly established. These are not only food and technical issues. ”

The expert believes that it is important not to punish someone over trifles, but to reconsider and seriously change these approaches in the system of the Ministry of Defense as a whole: "Issues related to the elimination of these negative phenomena should be reflected."

N. Mammadli noted that the Ministry of Defense is such a structure that does not inform through whom government purchases, tenders are carried out, over whom the food is supplied, what factors play a role.

“The Ministry of Defense, like other ministries, has serious problems with holding tenders. In many countries of the world, certain tenders for the supply of the army are held via the Internet. But we keep them so confidential and closed. Why should the supply of food to the army be a state secret? Absolute transparency must be ensured, and there must be public control,” Mammadli said. —0—