Azerbaijani military expert: Reduced military budget has impacted Armenia's priorities

He was commenting on a statement Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan made during joint military exercises with NATO that Armenia will focus not on quantitative, but qualitative change in country’s armament.

"This statement is understandable, since Armenia has sufficient volume of old weapons. Armenia has received weapons through legitimate and often illegal means at various times. We all remember Russia’s supply of military equipment worth $1 billion to Armenia. China has also delivered arms to Armenia claming that it was supplied by commercial organizations,” the military expert said.

“For all these reasons, Armenia no longer needs quantitative changes in its armament. Therefore, Armenian army holds frequent military exercises to write off their old weapons. Reduction in the country’s military budget has influenced Armenia’s priorities. Since Armenia’s budget has shrunk and it can not buy a large volume of weapons, it is concerned with increasing military budget of Azerbaijan,” the expert added.

“Therefore, precisely this factor stands behind false allegations that Armenia does not intend to participate in an arms race. Thus, Armenia wants to draw world attention to the arms of Azerbaijan,” the expert noted.

“Azerbaijan’s military capabilities often undergo international military inspections which show that it is consistent with what Azerbaijan has declared unlike Armenia, which has purchased weapons illegally. Apparently, the West has recommend Armenia to buy only modern weapons on backdrop of country’s reducing military budget.”

"With regard to joint military exercises with NATO, I would not exaggerate importance of this event. Armenia is a dependent country, so it is unlikely to be able to join this organization. Armenia has the last place in NATO’s priorities in the South Caucasus. But, in my personal opinion, Azerbaijan and Georgia will finally accede to the Alliance which will make Armenia to start this long process," Jafarov said.


Day.Az