Azerbaijan says it bought $5 bn-worth weapons from IsraelDecember 14, 2016 - 12:43 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Azerbaijan has purchased nearly $5 billion-worth of defense equipment from Israel, President Ilham Aliyev said on Tuesday, December 13 during a visit to Baku by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Haaretz reports. Aliyev said the defense industry cooperation between the countries lasted for several years and was still flourishing. “So far the contracts between Azerbaijani and Israeli companies concerning the purchase of defense equipment have been close to $5 billion,” Aliyev said. “More precisely, $4.85 billion. The biggest part of these contracts has already been executed and we still continue working on that. And we are very satisfied with this level of cooperation.” According to foreign reports, Israel sells radar systems and drones to Azerbaijan, and collects intelligence against Iran. Moshe Ya’alon, as a defense minister, visited Azerbaijan in 2014 for a weapons fair in which Israeli companies participated. According to other reports, an Israeli self-destructing killer drone – Israel Aerospace Industries’ Harop – was seen operating in Nagorno-Karabakh, an Armenian rebel enclave inside Azerbaijan. It has also been reported that Azerbaijani soldiers are armed with Israeli Tavor rifles, having been seen carrying the blue and white weapon. Israel is the world's most militarized country, the Global Militarization Index said, at the same time putting Azerbaijan among the top ten globally. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Russia provides info about arrested Armenian ex-MP Russian law enforcement agencies have provided information about the arrest of Tigran Urikhanyan. Lemkin Institue slams Pashinyan's “cryptic engagement with Genocide denial” The Lemkin Institute is alarmed over Pashinyan’s statements “questioning Armenia's legal basis to pursue justice against Turkey”. 41 detained as antigovernment protests continue in Yerevan 41 people were detained in Yerevan as people demanding Pashinian’s resignation stage campaigns of civil disobedience. Armenia votes for UN resolution granting Palestine new rights The U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin on May 10 to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine. |