Azerbaijan, Baku / corr S.Agayeva / Azerbaijani army is strengthening day and by day and is prepared to liberate its lands occupied by the Armenian armed forces, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on 23 August in a public meeting in Hajigabul District of Azerbaijan.
The conflict between the two countries of South Caucasus began in 1988 due to territorial claims by Armenia against Azerbaijan. Armenia has occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani land including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding Districts. Since 1992, these territories have been under the occupation of the Armenian Forces. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time the active hostilities ended. The Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia, France and USA) are currently holding peaceful negotiations.
"We take every measure to increase the military efficiency of our Army," the President said. Defense expenses increase in Azerbaijan and currently the military budget of the country is equal to public budget of Armenia.
"At present it is impossible to imagine someone attacking on Azerbaijan," Aliyev stressed.
The head of state once more stated the position of Azerbaijan, which is keen on peaceable resolution of the Armenian -Azerbaijani conflict.
Hajigabul with the population of 63,000 people is located in 113km of Baku.
On his arrival, the President participated in the ceremony by laying the first brick for the Children's Medical Centre. Nearly 23,000 children live in the district. According to the projects the centre will be supplied with modern equipment which will be unique in the district. The construction will be complete within a year.
Ilham Aliyev's visit to the region of Azerbaijan began on the morning of 23 August. In Neftchala district, the President visited several social facilities within the district. After Hajigabul, the President plans to visit the Alat settlement.