Baku ups defense budget shocked over military parade in Armenia October 12, 2011 - 20:12 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Azerbaijan's draft budget for 2012 envisages allocation of $1.77 bln to defence sector, increasing the share by 1.9% against last year. Azerbaijan's budget for 2011, revised upwards in May, allocates AZN 1,364,796,025 ($1.74bn) to direct military spending. Recently Baku has been bragging about its military budget’s topping the whole of Armenia’s state budget. Azerbaijan is spending billions on weaponry purchase, miraculously circumventing the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. Azeri authorities are shamelessly inciting its people to a war and organising sniper courses at schools, ready to turn their kids into cannon fodder. Baku flames up anti-Armenian rhetoric with allegations of “Azeri kids killed by Armenian soldiers”. Baku keeps maniacally upping its military budget to buy more weaponry, ready to set up more provocations, to spread more anti-Armenian propaganda to make Azeri people disregard the misdeeds of authorities. Or is there another reason? Yerevan hosted a grandiose military parade dedicated to 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence. The festive Republic Square gathered huge masses, exultantly greeting marching soldiers of Armenian, Artsakh and Russian armies and a vast range of defense weaponry demonstrated. SU-25 jet aircrafts, leaving coloured streaks in the sky as they flew by, as well as Mi-24, Mi-2 helicopter gunships were welcomed with special enthusiasm. Those gathered were impressed by defence weaponry demonstrated: 9К72 Elbrus vehicle complex, 9K79-1 Tochka-U tactical missile system, S-125 Pechora, K11 Krug and Osa surface-to-air missile systems, GAZ-2975 Tigr high-mobility military vehicles, T-72 tanks, heavy artillery, self-propelled howitzers, anti-tank missiles; Krunk Armenian-made international standard missile drones were demonstrated. The parade was led by the chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Colonel-General Yuri Khachaturov with Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan at reviewing stand. Armenian President, Supreme Commander in Chief of the Armenian Armed Forces Serzh Sargsyan, Nagorno Karabakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I, high-ranking politicians and foreign diplomats reviewed the parade from official stands. The parade couldn't but rise the upsurge of pride and patriotism with many, even most sceptical viewers, who were given a chance to become witness to the might of the Armenian army. Azerbaijan, unable to predict the response of Armenian army in case of a renewed war, was clearly shocked over Yerevan-hosted military parade, which might be a reason for Baku's expanding its defense budget. 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 | Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |