AZERI AUTHORITIES PREPARE TO WARNovember 6, 2002 - 18:08 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A large-scale action of gathering funds for the national army is launched in Azerbaijan: money is being accumulated on the account of the Fund for assistance to armed forces created by order of President Heydar Aliyev. As reported by "De Facto" agency, "Nezavisimaya Gazeta" Russian newspaper writes this. Analysts consider the formation of such a fund as evidence of authorities' preparation to military solution of the Karabakh problem. And this script of developments may just become Aliyev's best PR-step not long before presidential elections in the country, the newspaper article notes. At least the public opinion, on forming of which skilled political image makers work, is inclined to supporting military action in Karabakh. It is not casual that the idea of settling the matter by military means in case the negotiation potential is fully used up is present in virtually all speeches of the head of the Azeri state. It is indicative, the publication author notes, that the defense spending in the state budget bill for next year, which is now being discussed by the Azeri parliament, is 12.3% higher than the same item of the budget of 2002. Commenting on the situation, military expert Azad Isa-zade noted, "By creating such funds the state heaps its own duties on the shoulders of the population. I am sure that our state may lack money for supporting army structures only due to corruption and stealing." And he is not the only person thinking that way, the article notes. Many experts call in question that the funds collected by the people will be spend on meeting the armed forces' needs, and not on raising the life standard of army officials. It looks like the country authorities care not so much of the army condition, as of their own political future, "Nezavisimaya Gazeta" writes. Top stories The Armenian Defense Ministry has denied Azerbaijan's accusations of violating the ceasefire. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. President of the Armenian parliament Alen Simonyan met with the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova. Achieving stable peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains a priority of the OSCE, said Ian Borg. Partner news | Putin to meet Erdogan, Aliyev on SCO sidelines Putin will hold meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. CSI urges IOC to ban Azerbaijan from Paris 2024 The organization said in a statement that there is no place for genocide at the Olympics. Freedom House: “Why are there no Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh?” Freedom House has published a report summary titled “Why are there no Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh?” Aliyev: Change in Armenia’s Constitution key for singing peace deal Ilham Aliyev has declared that most important condition for signing a peace agreement is for Armenia to change its Constitution. |