"The Azeri party is able to liberate the lands occupied by Armenia at any moment," Azeri President Ilham Aliyev stated a the opening of a monument to former President Heydar Aliyev in Lenkoran town (situated some 250 km to south of Baku). The adversary should know that the Azeri army is capable to liberate our lands at any moment," he noted. The President noted that "Armenia's reluctance to making concessions significantly hampers settlement of the Karabakh issue. Along with it we, however, pay much attention to strengthening the efficiency of the Azeri army," Aliyev emphasized. "Thus, if state military expenses made $175 million in 2004, these are $300 million this year and will make $600 million next year," the Azeri President stated. At that he noted that Azerbaijan "undertakes successful diplomatic moves to liberate the occupied lands and for peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict," Interfax reported.