Details added after the first paragraph (the first version was posted at 12:40)
Azerbaijan, Baku, March 12 / Trend K. Zarbaliyeva /
The Internal Troops have become a highly professional division, well-prepared both morally and psychologically, the Azerbaijani Interior Minister Ramil Usubov said at a ceremony held at a military unit on the occasion of the 19th anniversary of the Internal Troops on Saturday.
According to Usubov, for a short time, the Internal Troops have passed very selfless path and gave hundreds of martyrs to defend the motherland.
"After the active hostilities, they have demonstrated selflessness in maintaining stability and independence of Azerbaijan, contributed to the suppression of attempts to violate the internal stability," he added.
Usubov said the Internal Troops' personnel demonstrate adherence to the Azerbaijani statehood.
"Their main goal has been serving the state and the people. This is one of the main structures, protecting internal stability in the country. It is equipped with modern weapons and defense means," Usubov said. "I believe that after it the Internal Troops will suitably fulfill the tasks before them," he added.
Turkish Gendarmerie Command has rendered great services to the Internal Troops in reaching today's level, Usubov said and stressed that it will further contribute in this direction.
The Internal Troops are an important structure in the state building in Azerbaijan, Interior Troops Commander Zakir Hasanov said in his speech.
"The Internal Troops have been formed and developed as a result of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev's attention and special care, as a result of the unity of words and deeds, and turned into a structure with high combat readiness. Reforms carried out today in the Internal Troops, combat readiness, logistics, social status of servicemen and other processes can be described as a sharp jump over the last five or six years. It was noted by foreign professional servicemen, experts, senior officers and generals, who got acquainted with the high combat readiness, logistics and social maintenance of the Interior Troops," Hasanov said.
He said that maintaining combat readiness at a high level is constantly under the control of the Interior Ministry and Command.
"Personnel achieve great progress in combating crime and in ensuring public safety, as well as in special operations. Of course, a great job, military and field exercises are behind all this," Hasanov said.
A group of officers were given military ranks by the Minister Usubov's order at the event. Also a group of officers was awarded badges by the Interior Troops Commander Hasanov's order.
Later the Internal Troops personnel held ceremonial parade.
The Internal Troops' officers demonstrated performance at the event.
The event attendees got acquainted with the social and living conditions of the Internal Troops' servicemen.