Yashar Jafarli: "If we speak about problems in Azerbaijan, it would be
better to speak about problems of the army"
30 December 2007 [16:01] – Today.Az
Azerbaijani army is the largest and best-equipped one in the South
Caucasus, but there are a number of problems, as reported by Yashar
Jafarli, chairman of the Public Association of Retirees.
"Reforms in the army are closely connected with general reforms in all
spheres. These reforms are executed in the country like in the army as
an army is a social institution. If we speak about social and political
problems, problems in the sphere of democracy and protectionof human
rights in Azerbaijan, it would be better to speak about problems of the
army", Jafarli continued.
He considers that the leadership of the army should be blamed while
the Defense Minister is responsible for the situation in the army.
"Our country has lost over 3.000 soldiers since signing of the
ceasefire agreement in 1994. However, no one has been brought to
responsibility", the retiree said.
"Absence of due control by the executive and legislative powers, as
well as civil society, causes increase in the number of law offenses",
Jafarli said.
The expert considers that Azerbaijani army is the largest and
best-equipped one in the South Caucasus.
"As to the combat training, this is a debatable question which can find
solution only in case of war", the officer continued.
Jafarli noted speaking on the correspondence of Azerbaijani army to
NATO standards that NATO is a military-political bloc.
"Therefore, its standards are divided into two parts. On the one hand,
these are military standards, aiming to ensure mutual aid of the
coalition member-states in case of war. Other standard imply provision
of democratic rights and liberties, settlement of social problems and
others", he continued.
Jafarli admitted that reforms are conducted in the army with the
simultaneous study of experience of other member-states of NATO, Russia
and even Pakistan in this sphere,
"I have been a deputy chief of department of human resources under the
Ministry of Defense for 5 years, therefore, I am aware of the situation
with reforms in our country. For example, this year the whole staff of
divisions has undergone reforms in line with the NATO standards, while
the structures of the Defense Ministry and Joint Staff operate on basis
of the old system", the officer said.
Touching upon the cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO, Jafarli
recollected our country’s participation in such programs as
"Partnership for Peace" and assumed commitments.
"On the whole, NATO representatives positively assess the reforms
conducted in our army, but at the same time they point out a number of
problems. One of them is that our government does not inform the
community about the assumed commitments. Moreover, no one is informed
about programs in the framework of the plan of individual cooperation
between Azerbaijan and NATO (IPAP). This year Azerbaijan has completed
the first stage of the program but no one knows the details, as well as
the details of the first stage", Jafarli said.
He considers that the conducted reforms mainly refer the staff,
structural and technical changes.
"No political reforms are conducted. moreover, the Defense Ministry
does not execute hundreds of court decisions. For example, officers do
not have a right to ballot for parliamentary elections. This is a
direct violation of human rights".
He said the situation is also complicated with the war veterans,
invalids and martyrs’ families and others.
"No reforms are carried out in this sphere", he said.
He noted that there is a progress in the sphere of military training of
the youth.
"We have everything for catching up at least with Georgia: we have
funds, intellectual potential, military structures and NGOs dealing
with military issues. Our leadership says it is not necessary to
advertise war, but at the same time our powers do not exclude possible
armed resolution of the conflict. Thus, the military training is
necessary and due state programs should be adopted for it. I hope that
most problems in the military field will be settled in 2008, the year
of the 90th anniversary of our army", Jafarli noted.