Baku, June 24 (AZERTAC). President of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev has made remarks at joint large-scale battle exercises of units and formations of the Defense Ministry, State Frontier Service and Interior Troops on the occasion of the 92nd anniversary of the country`s Armed Forces.

The following is the excerpts from the President`s speech:

“Azerbaijan`s army is strengthening day by day. The army building process is going on very successfully in Azerbaijan, and this allows us to increase our military power. Army building is of great importance for every country. This must be a priority especially for the country which is in a state of war. And it is so. Army building is a key priority for Azerbaijan. For long years we`ve been suffering from occupation, our lands have been under occupation. We must be ready to liberate our lands in any moment. And to do this we must have strong army along with political and diplomatic efforts. Today, Azerbaijan`s army is very strong. It has an increasingly growing professionalism and fighting capacity, and there is also high spirit within the army. At the same time we are strengthening the army`s material and technical resources, we`ve done great job in this regard over last years. The government has been allocating necessary funds to meet the army`s demands. Suffice it to say that in last few years, namely 7 years, our military spending have been increased more than 13 fold. Azerbaijan`s military budget makes $2,150,000,000, which is more that the overall budget of Armenia.”

“We`ll continue taking extra measures to increase military production. Today there are 21 military enterprises, military factories in Azerbaijan, we have 30 production spheres. We must ensure that all the equipment needed for Azerbaijan`s army, our Armed Forces is produced in Azerbaijan itself.”

“Azerbaijan is becoming an economically strong country. Over last few years Azerbaijan`s economy has been the most rapidly developing one on the world scale, and this allows us to take necessary steps in all spheres of life.”

“And the stronger we are economically, the stronger our positions are in the world, in the region. Last year`s financial crisis almost has had no impact on Azerbaijan. This was possible thanks to our well-considered policy. I have no doubt that Azerbaijan will achieve all its goals both in the economic, social and political areas. Our aim is to strengthen our independence, ensure Azerbaijan`s independent policy and solve all our tasks.”

“And our number one priority is liberating our occupied lands. For long years there have been negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan in this regard. We have also mediators who are playing their role in this process. However, the issue has not yet been resolved although our just policy is strengthened by decisions and resolutions of international organizations. Almost all world organizations, leading organizations have issued decisions on the issue. But the aggressor rejects these decisions and resolutions. And this creates new tasks for us: either to continue talks - we are ready for this, but only if they give fruits - or to chose another way. We must be ready for any option, and my statements in last years prove it once again.”

“We`ve never denied the possibility of military solution of the issue, although we are for negotiations and have been in peace talks for nearly 20 years. Azerbaijan has had a constructive position on the talks. It has had no results. How long can the people of Azerbaijan wait? How long can we wait for the justice to be restored? Armenia disregards international legal norms, does not fulfill decisions of international organizations. And the patience of the Azerbaijani people is not infinite. Our major task is restoring Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity by any means.”

“I reiterate that we want to solve the issue by peaceful means. But if it is impossible Azerbaijan`s Armed Forces must be ready to execute the Commander-in-Chief`s order to liberate our native lands.”

“Today`s Armenia was established on Azerbaijan`s lands. We must restore our territorial integrity. This is our natural right. A million Azerbaijanis have had their basic rights violated. The Azerbaijanis were subjected to ethnic cleansing. Hundreds of Azerbaijanis were expelled from the Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent regions. How long can we tolerate this?

We must increase and are increasing both political and diplomatic efforts. We`ve considerably strengthened our economic potential. Today there is a great gap between Armenia and Azerbaijan from the economic point of view. And this gap will continue to expand.”

“Today`s exercises have once again showcased the power of Azerbaijan`s army, the Armed Forces. Today`s exercises have been conducted jointly by the Ministry of Defense, Internal Troops and Frontier Troops, and we`ll stand up for our Motherland, for our lands together. The whole people of Azerbaijan will be mobilized. All the armed units will be mobilized. And for this we must carry our coordination work among all Armed Forces. And the major goal of today`s exercise is liberating our native lands by joint efforts.”

“The exercises have been a success. Of course, they will be thoroughly analyzed, but first impressions are positive. I`ve made certain that all the tasks set have been fulfilled, and our Armed Forces have shown high professionalism.”

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