AZERBAIJAN AT STATE OF WAR, ALIYEV SAID

PanARMENIAN.Net - "Azerbaijan lives under war conditions, our lands are occupied, thus attention to the army should be at a high level," Azeri President Ilham Aliyev stated, when speaking of the need to increase Baku defense spending. In his words, Azerbaijan will increase its budget to the level equal to the total budget of Armenia. "I have set a task: our military budget should be equal to the whole of Armenia's budget and maybe excel it - and it will happen this way," Aliyev said. In the President's words, Azerbaijan's budget 2006 provides for increase of defense spending up to $600 million. In 2005 the military budget of the country makes $300 million. "On the whole, the army building process in Azerbaijan is under way and rather successful… We are strengthening our military potential… The process will further have higher rate," Aliyev said. "The main cause of increase of our military budget lies in Russia having sent material totaling one billion dollars to Armenia in mid-90s. We are also concerned over the latest transfer of military equipment from Georgia to Armenia…Thus we are taking and will further take respective steps," Aliyev remarked, reported RIA Novosti.