Azerbaijan able to defend itself - minister

ANS TV, Baku
26 Jun 06


[Presenter] Azerbaijan is an independent state and can defend its territorial integrity, Defence Minister Safar Abiyev has said in a statement on the occasion of Armed Forces Day.

[Abiyev] I have a dream. The occupied lands must be liberated and the tasks of the armed forces are to make preparations and liberate those lands by force if necessary. Everything takes time.

Azerbaijan gained its independence in 1991. The key issue is to preserve our independence. Not only Armenia but major states too were against Azerbaijan. They wanted to keep it under control and even nowadays they want to achieve this. Time will come and major states, which are exerting pressure on Azerbaijan, will understand that Azerbaijan is an independent state and can defend its lands and
territorial integrity.