Baku, August 3, AZERTAC

Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defense held an extended board meeting on Saturday on the results of the first half of 2024, the ministry told AZERTAC.

The meeting, held under the leadership of Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov via video teleconference, was attended by Deputies of the Defense Minister, Commanders of types of troops (forces), Chiefs of Main Departments, Departments, Services and independent branches, Commanders of army corps and formations, as well as Chiefs of special educational institutions.

The meeting commenced with commemorating the memory of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev, and Martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The current operational conditions and urgent measures taken by Azerbaijan Army Units against the provocations committed by Armenia, armed by its protectors, on the conditional border in order to aggravate the situation in the region were analyzed.

The tasks set by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev to the Azerbaijan Army were delivered to the board meeting participants.

Stressing the phrase voiced by the President “No matter how much power and weapons the state has and how carefully military operations are planned, it is the soldiers and officers who achieve Victory”, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov noted that the Azerbaijan Army is capable of accomplishing any tasks of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief with high professionalism.

The leadership of the Ministry made extensive reports.

First Deputy Minister of Defense – Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev delivered a detailed report on the measures taken in the first half of 2024 to enhance the operational capabilities of troops and command and management abilities of headquarters, as well as on measures in engineering, intelligence and other spheres. The positive result of reforms successfully carried out in the field of army development was highlighted.

Analyzing the service and combat activities of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev stressed that the conduct of international and joint exercises with the involvement of various types of troops increased servicemen’s professional level.

Then Deputy Minister of Defense – Director General Agil Gurbanov reported on the work done in the first six months of 2024 in the field of supply, provision of troops with new weapons and equipment, psychological training of personnel and measures conducted in the field of military education.

Director General noted that in accordance with the relevant orders of the President, as a result of the measures taken to increase the attractiveness of military education, including educational activities conducted through 17 centers established in 13 cities of the republic, the number of applications to special educational institutions under the National Defense University was more than 5500. It also gives a wide opportunity to select candidates with high qualifications, equip the troops at the tactical level and increase the quantitative and qualitative indicators in the creation of personnel resources.

Director General touched on the issues related to preparation for the winter and noted that the measures implemented in this direction in the Azerbaijan Army are organized at a high level in a planned manner.

Then the Deputy Minister of Defense – Commander of the Land Forces, Lieutenant General Hikmat Mirzayev reported on measures for increasing units’ combat capability and organizing troops’ service.

It was mentioned that the intensity of exercises and classes involving modern weapons and equipment is increased, as well as combat duty and other service and combat activities in the units are organized at a high level.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Defense – Acting Commander of the Air Force, Lieutenant General Namig Islamzada emphasized that special attention is paid to the better quality of service-combat activities of personnel in Air Force units in accordance with the annual training plan.

Commander of the Combined Arms Army Major General Kanan Seyidov and other troop (force) commanders also spoke at the meeting and gave detailed information about the measures taken at the end of the first half of the year.

The Minister of Defense spoke at the end of the meeting and noted the importance of studying the correct and effective use of modern weapons and equipment newly adopted for armament.

He gave relevant instructions regarding the study of the individual and psychological features of the soldiers newly called up for active military service, the sensitive approach to their adaptation process, as well as the constant focus on their health.

The Minister of Defense gave additional instructions on the implementation of the work carried out in the next training year in accordance with the plan and with high quality. Specific tasks have been set before the relevant persons regarding the engineering measures taken in the liberated territories.

Appropriate tasks were given to regularly check and strictly monitor the work done to improve the social and living conditions and medical care of the personnel.

Colonel General Zakir Hasanov recalled the remarks by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief and concluded the meeting by saying that the Azerbaijan Army has to maintain its combat readiness and professionalism at a high level so that no one can speak to us in the language of dictates and ultimatums, to be ready at any moment against any provocations.