BAKU HIKES MILITARY SPENDING TO $3.7 BILLION
Wednesday, January 16th, 2013
An Azeri military parade in Baku last year BAKU (Associated
Press)-Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev announced a sharp hike in
military spending and again warned Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.
Aliyev said in remarks published Wednesday in state newspapers that
this year’s defense budget will rise to $3.7 billion, up from $3
billion last year.
Annual military spending increases have taken place amid persisting
tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Border skirmishes are
relatively common, but there has been no return to the full-out
conflict of the 1990s.
Hundreds of people gathered Saturday in Baku, in protest at the death
this month of an 18-year old conscript. Demonstrators said he died
as a result of abuse.
In remarks addressed at the domestic opposition, Aliyev warned against
smearing Azerbaijan’s army.
Disclaimer: This article was contributed and translated into English by Kajoyan Gevork. While we strive for quality, the views and accuracy of the content remain the responsibility of the contributor. Please verify all facts independently before reposting or citing.
Direct link to this article: https://www.armenianclub.com/2013/01/17/baku-hikes-military-spending-to-3-7-billion/