General satisfied with Azerbaijan army

The Azerbaijan army is strong enough to liberate Garabagh, the former defense minister, a member of the Union of retired officers, Major-General Dadash Rzayev told AssA-Irada Monday.

Mr. Rzayev said he thinks it wrong to build a professional army now. It will become possible in the future, when the economy is capable of up-keeping the hired army, he said.

According to him, recent media publications concerning corruption in the army harm the latter greatly. Mr. Rzayev believes that there is no corruption in the MOD, but it exists on lower levels, the responsibility

for which rests upon military command.

He positively assessed the ongoing cease-fire, regarding the losses in the Azeri army as natural for a country, still at war. Mr. Rzayev said Azerbaijan should not follow the Turkish or Russian models in building the army, but apply the advantages of both models.*