"Very serious” military reform started in Azerbaijan: Aliyev

Azerbaijan started “very serious” military reforms last year, President Ilham Aliyev said, adding that the reform will bring about a completely new situation in its peace talks with Armenia.

“We started very serious reforms, which are producing results already,” Aliyev told a cabinet meeting broadcast on state television on Jan. 9. “Our military potential, the reforms in the military, new principles and approaches to military tactics will bring about a completely new situation.”

Azerbaijan’s purchase of large amounts of modern arms and military hardware in recent years has also increased the country’s military capacity significantly, which will have a “positive impact on the peace process”, he said.

Last year Aliyev replaced his long-serving defense minister Safar Abiyev by Zakir Hasanov, former commander of the Interior Troops. 

Armenia captured nearly 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s internationally-recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts, in a war after the Soviet breakup in 1991.

Large-scale hostilities ended with a Russia-brokered ceasefire in May 1994 and the sides have yet to sign a peace agreement.

Aliyev said his government supports talks mediated by Russia, US and France but reserves the right to use military force to regain control of the territory should the peace process fail.

ANN.Az