Report: Baku continuously boosts arms imports

PanARMENIAN.Net - Azerbaijan is the sole country in Eastern Europe to continuously increase the volume of arms imports, according to the annual report of Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). “Azerbaijan increased its arms imports by 155% in 2003-2012,” SIPRI experts write, citing Nagorno Karabakh conflict as the key reason.

“Along with Aerostar UAV and Hermes-450, Baku purchased Russian Mi-24 helicopters, as well as Matador and Marauder armoured vehicles from South Africa built under license in Azerbaijan,” the report reads, rbc reports.

In the past 10 years, Azerbaijan advanced its positions from 48th to 35th in the world list of arms importers.

Meanwhile, Turkey was also reported to actively purchase new arms, however, not in the same pace as Azerbaijan.

It’s noteworthy that in March, Georgia and Azerbaijan signed a plan of defense cooperation for 2013. Georgian authorities keep stating they show respect for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, whilst expressing intention to maintain friendly relations with Armenia.