In his New year address to the nation, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliev said that his country has spent more then US$3 billion on defence in 2011 and will spend even more in 2012. The President said that "the latest weaponry, hardware, warplanes, helicopter gunships and ammunition are and will be brought to Azerbaijan. In addition, more than 600 types of military products are manufactured in Azerbaijan through the Ministry of Defense Industry which was established several years ago. We will continue doing our utmost to strengthen our military potential in the future."
Speaking of his country's achievements in the last twenty years Ilham Aliev said that Azerbaijan must now protect its achievements. "We must and we will protect our country" he concluded.
source: commonspace.eu with news.az
photo: Military tanks on parade in Baku in 2011