Azerbaijani armed forces fund collects nearly $50 million
By Sara Rajabova
The amount of funds accumulated in the account of Azerbaijan's Armed Forces Assistance Fund has reached 39.017 million manats (nearly $49.703 million), according to the Defense Ministry.
As of April 1, 2013, the fund accumulated 39,017,597 manats, 205,791 US dollars and 593 euros.
No increase was recorded in the dollar or euro accounts. No funds were collected in Russian rubles.
The Fund was established in accordance with the Decree of the Azerbaijani President on August 17, 2002. It is formed on the basis of voluntary donations of physical and legal entities and at the expense of other receipts that are not prohibited by law. The fund aims to contribute to strengthening the logistics of the Armed Forces.
Defense industry developing
The funding of the army development and defense industry rises with the continuous development of Azerbaijan.
Funds in the amount of 3.4 billion manats (over $4.3 billion) were directed to the development of the military in Azerbaijan in 2012.
In order to increase the defense capability of Azerbaijan, intensive work was carried out on social and legal protection of military men, on the development of legislative acts, strengthening of the logistics, and the development of military-industrial potential, the Cabinet of Ministers' report on the results of 2012 presented to the Azerbaijani parliament said in March.
Provision of the army with modern military systems and weapons was achieved as a result of the implemented measures.
Last year, construction of a new base for naval forces and a central armament depot, as well as work on the construction, repair and upgrade of military units was continued.
The report also said that work worth 241 million manats was implemented in 2012 on the construction and upgrading of military units of the Defense Ministry. Six dormitories for soldiers, two first-aid posts, three recovery lounges, four premises, eight apartment buildings and other facilities were constructed.
Heating systems were installed in ten military units, one dormitory for soldiers, nine boiler rooms, eight premises and five apartment buildings were overhauled, as well as other activities undertaken.
Also, in 2012, Azerbaijan produced and delivered to customers defense products in the amount of 119.8 million manats, or 10.3 percent more than in 2011, the government's report says.
According to the report, last year, development work was conducted in the areas of missiles, artillery and small arms, ammunition, optics, engineering machinery, military equipment and spare parts for armored vehicles, radio systems, means of chemical defense and intelligence systems.
Moreover, the range of defense goods whose production is complete reached 700 units.
Funding worth 224 million manats was allocated for the development and improvement of the production sector, the report said.
The total volume of goods produced in the defense industry increased 3.3 million manats and amounted to 153.4 million manats in 2012, or 3.7 times more than in 2007 and 3 per cent more than in 2011.
Azerbaijan also expanded its military cooperation with other countries in 2012. The country currently closely cooperates in the defense sector with Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, South Africa, Romania, Pakistan, Georgia, Belarus, Israel, Poland, Belgium, Czech Republic, Serbia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Italy, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Iran, and Korea, and with more than 60 foreign companies in the areas of aviation, navigation and production of devices.