Azerbaijani President: Our biggest compromise is that Azerbaijan has been committed to the peace process for 20 years

President of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-chief of the Azerbaijan Armed Forces, Ilham Aliyev held a meeting on building-up the army at the Defense Ministry on April 23.

President Ilham Aliyev said building up the armed forces has always been in spotlight.

“It is a main issue for us because the lands of Azerbaijan have been under occupation for many years,” said the Head of State, adding Azerbaijan's intensively beefing up its military comes from the need.

President Ilham Aliyev noted Armenia's and its supporters' invasion of Azerbaijani lands was accompanied by brutalities.

“Khojaly genocide is a striking example of this. Armenia grossly violates all legal norms. Though the UN Security Council adopted four resolutions on liberation of occupied Azerbaijani lands, Armenia does not fulfill these decisions.”

The Azerbaijani leader noted the updated Madrid principles could be a basis for preparation of final proposals. President Ilham Aliyev pointed out Armenia does not want to leave occupied lands as it drags out peace talks.

“Our biggest compromise is that Azerbaijan has been committed to the peace process for 20 years,” he said.

According to the President, international community must honor its own decisions and no problem can be solved in the region without resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict because this conflict seriously affects processes in the region.

“Military spending has increased ten-fold over the past 5-6 years, defense industry is developing, military equipment has been bought because it is our natural right”, the President underlined.

“Today, Azerbaijan's army is stronger and more professional than Armenian army in all fields”.

The Head of State noted Azerbaijan is the country, which does not depend on foreign aid.

Defense Minister Safar Abiyev delivered a report on the measures to strengthen military forces.

The report was followed by discussions on building up the armed forces.


/AzerTac/