Azernews.Az

The Azerbaijan Defense Ministry has reiterated that the country is ready to free its territories from Armenian occupation if international mediation in settling the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict turns out fruitless.
"International organizations seeking resolution of the dispute should work to achieve liberation of the occupied land while conducting peace talks. Otherwise, Azerbaijan will do so on its own," the Defense Ministry spokesman Eldar Sabiroglu told the press Friday.
He noted that the country is in a state of war with Armenia and could resort to any step to free its land from Armenian aggressors.
Sabiroglu said Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev's recent statement at a CIS meeting in Kazakhstan that the possibility of military action is close to 100% unless Armenia relinquishes its policy of occupation had merit. He said Azerbaijan will not endlessly wait for Yerevan to alter its destructive stance.
"We have no other way if the [mediating] OSCE Minsk Group's efforts yield no fruit," the ministry spokesman warned.
Sabiroglu said the Azerbaijani army stands ready for combat at any time.
"Our weaponry and military machinery meet up-to-date standards. The national army has been brought into compliance with NATO standards as well," he said.
Sabiroglu emphasized that the fact Azerbaijan's defense spending has reached $1.3 billion was due to the country's being in a state of war on one hand, and its rampant economic development on the other.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus republics reared up in the late 1980s due to Armenia's territorial claims. Armenia has been occupying over 20% of Azerbaijan's internationally-recognized territory since the early 1990s, in defiance of international law. The ceasefire accord was signed in 1994, but peace talks have been fruitless so far and refugees remain stranded.

Army death toll
45 soldiers and officers of the Azerbaijani army died in January-November 2007, the ministry spokesman said.
Sabiroglu said the deaths were primarily caused by frequent ceasefire breaches by Armenia, as well as mine blasts and accidents. He said truce violations on the frontline have intensified in the past six months.
Armenian armed forces, which often subject Azerbaijani troops to shooting from their positions in the occupied territories, have been sustaining casualties as well. Up to 10 Armenian servicemen have died in the past three months as a result of retaliatory fire.