Interview with Fazil Mustafa, member of the Milli Majlis, the parliament of Azerbaijan.
Q: You recently visited the contact line of Azerbaijani-Armenian troops and also a military unit where tactical military exercises were being held. What impressions do you have about defense capability of Azerbaijani army?
A: We witnessed high combat readiness of soldiers and officers of the Azerbaijani army and their high precision shooting in the exercises. I had no idea to what degree military technology has changed in Azerbaijani army. It has become modern.
In addition, conditions have improved not only for military personnel stationed in barracks, but also for soldiers and officers on combat duty in trenches on the front lines. Along with this, there is sufficient progress in providing soldiers with food and in matters of military training. All these point to serious reforms in military system.
Of course, there have been some negative instances lately.
But I do not think that they influence mood in the army and the level of combat readiness. There are great number of soldiers and officers who perform their service in an exemplary manner. During the visit I was also eager to learn about management of modern technology by military men, the relationship between them and their use of radio communication.
I repeat that I was surprised at high training on all these parameters. Given all this, I think there are positive changes in the Azerbaijani army.
Q: What do you think about defese capability of the Azerbaijani army? Are military men able to stop the advance of enemy troops?
A: Of course, we witnessed high moral and physical will in military personnel necessary to repulse enemy attacks.
Those Armenian politicians, who constantly threaten that Azerbaijan will loose a certain part of its territory if it launches the war, say this under the pressure of their foreign backers. In reality, it is hard to imagine that Armenia, which experiences difficulties in all areas, will win the war. Therefore, I consider it important to pay attention on what country or countries Armenia relies while making such rhetoric. Armenia is unable to stand the pressure from Azerbaijan
Q: Is Azerbaijan ready to liberate its land from political, economic and military view point?
A: Azerbaijan is able to liberate the occupied lands from the military viewpoint. However, from a political viewpoint, there is a need to neutralize the resistance from international forces to liberation of occupied territories by military means.
The reason is that in today's world it is no longer about a war between two states. We are talking about countries patronizing Armenia. Azerbaijan’s relations with these forces will spoil once the war resumes.
Thus, the war is conducted not only on battlefield, but also on diplomatic front. In this regard, without success on diplomatic front, the victory on battlefield will be problematic to a certain degree. Azerbaijan is ready to win on the battlefield. Now it now remains to achieve the world recognition of Azerbaijan’s right to liberation of the occupied territories.
Q: How reasonable is Azerbaijan’s launching enterprises producing military equipment?
A: Of course, there is need to produce certain types of ammunition, such as cartridges. However, it would be a wrong step to create a complete infrastructure for military production because it would be a heavy burden on economy. Instead of this, the country needs to buy arms from developed countries.
Because, no matter how hard Azerbaijan tries, it still will not be able to improve it own advanced and sophisticated military hardware. Moreover, even developed countries do not create a complete cycle of a military production. In this regard, it is enough to look at the sad experience of the former Soviet Union, which sought to independently produce all kinds of products.
Q: How efficient is the way recruitment for Azerbaijani army based on universal conscription for many years?
A: It is difficult to move to a system configuration of the army while maintaining the risk of renewed war.
In general, the transition to professional army can be carried out gradually.
At first, you can transfer the mobile army units to a professional basis. But anyway, I believe disruption of the regular army system can not lead to positive results.
In addition, a sharp transition to army configuration on a professional basis may cause negative public attitude towards the armed forces.
Lala B.
News.Az
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