BAKU (ArmInfo)—On the eve of Azerbaijan’s Armed Forces Day, Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov gave an interview to the state news agency AzerTAG, Turan reported.
“We have every opportunity to hit any object and settlement on the territory of Armenia. However, for the current situation the peaceful Armenian population is not to blame and it constrains us,” said Hasanov
Referring to tensions on the front line, the minister said that the reason for this is the continued “occupation of the territory” of Azerbaijan by Armenia. “Armenians fire on our positions, trying to carry out reconnaissance and sabotage attacks; they fire at our civilians and damage farmland,” he said. “Therefore, the enemy must be spoken to in its own language, and we do it; the enemy is losing and we take revenge for our martyrs,” said Hasanov.
Speaking about the relationship of forces, the minister said that in the last year, Azerbaijan’s military budget has increased by 20 times. “Military spending this year exceed that of 2013 by 7.1%,” Husanov said.
“At the same time, Armenia’s military expenditure in 2014 was 5.3 times smaller than our military budget. ”
The arms acquired over the past 10 years have created a serious advantage for Azerbaijan. At the same time it has substantially developed and strengthened the military-industrial complex of Azerbaijan.
Among Azerbaijan’s modern arms, the minister mentioned Smerch systems of various modifications, variations tactical missile systems like Tochka-U, artillery systems MSTA-S, TOS-1A, the newest T-90 tanks, and others.