Alekper Mamedov: "We must purchase armament from NATO member-states"

- A fire occurred in the infantry combat vehicle which caused death to three servicemen...

- The Defense ministry bears the whole responsibility for the death of the three servicemen.

Earlier, when touching upon the problems, existing in the defense ministry of the country, we also stated the fact that the Defense Ministry is purchasing old military technique. We are purchasing military technique from former USSR states, including Ukraine. The military technique of the CIS countries, especially combat vehicles, whose operation term has expired long before, undergo repeated thorough repair. After it the technique is purchased by other former USSR states, including us. Ukraine had more such technique and we now purchase the "repaired" combat vehicles.

Before the events in Shemkir region and Nakhchivan we had warned the Defense Ministry about possible result, considering the long term of operation of military technique. Yet, the leadership of the defense ministry accused us of being prejudiced and lying, stating that such purchases are profitable. Let's recall the incident in Nakhchivan, where three of our servicemen also died. One of the cartridges exploded in the tank tube. Any military specialist would say that this incident is a result of a repeated repair of the exploded tank. I do not rule out that the material of the tube had worn out, which affected the quality of use. The recent infantry combat vehicle also burnt due to a technical failure.

Any repaired technique will have failure. It would be better to purchase new than old technique by reduced cost. We need to purchase arms from NATO member-states.

- Why do we purchase old technique, considering the fact that the term of its operation has expired long before?

- It is, of course, my subjective opinion. We do not purchase new technique from Russia. We also do not purchase it from the NATO member-states. Today, Azerbaijan purchases armament from Ukraine, which does not produce it but repairs old technique and sells it to us.

Let's recall the crash of Mig-29 air force jet, which we also purchased from Ukraine. At that time we lost two pilots.

I think it is possible to "gain" more from the purchase of old technique than from new one.

- How many old military technique are there in the military arsenal in Azerbaijan?

- It seems that the military park consists of only old combat vehicles. As I have already said all that we have is an old technique, preserved from the USSR times and purchased in the years of independence.

Look at Georgia. A greater part of its military technique consists of new armament, purchased from NATO. This was proven during the Georgian events in August of this year. Combat vehicles, guns, missile launchers were of US production.

- Does it mean that the incidents will repeat in the future?

- Sure. Incidents with lethal outcomes will be inevitable if we do not start purchasing new technique.

/Day.Az/