The political tussle ahead of 24 April, dying languages in Turkey & Azeri aero-military advantage over Armenia
Hürriyet, Turkey
Feb 21 2009
Turkey-US relations to improve if no wrong steps on Armenian issue
Turkey hopes the new Washington administration will understand the
importance of the country before it takes a step to recognize the
Armenian claims regarding the 1915 incident, the Turkish ambassador to
the U.S. said.
"The Turkish nation is ready to struggle altogether (against the
efforts to have the Armenian claims recognized in the U.S.). Therefore
I hope that the officials in the new U.S. administration will
understand the importance of Turkey, the meaning of this issue to the
Turkish people and the harm it will bring to the Turkish-American
relations," Ambassador Nabi Sensoy told reporters in New York late on
Friday.
U.S. President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton had pledged to recognize the Armenian claims
during the election campaign.
So far the Washington administration had stepped in to block the
legislations in the Congress that would recognize the Armenian claims
due to the strategic partnership between Turkey and the U.S.
Sensoy recalled in 2007 he was called back to Ankara to protest the
attempts to have the Armenian claims recognized in the Congress.
"That happened for the first time in our history. This was a protest
of the American policy. Everybody understood the seriousness of the
issue and retreated from taking such wrong step. Now we face the same
danger," he was quoted as saying by the state-run Anatolian Agency.
The issue of the 1915 incidents is highly sensitive for Turkey as well
as Armenia. Around 300,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks, died
in civil strife that emerged when Armenians took up arms, backed by
Russia, for independence in eastern Anatolia.
However Armenia, with the backing of the diaspora, claims up to 1.5
million of their kin were slaughtered in orchestrated killings in
1915. The issue remains unsolved as Armenia drags its feet in
accepting Turkey's proposal of forming a commission to investigate the
claims.
TURKEY-ARMENIA CLOSE TO NORMALIZATION
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has expressed his hopes for the
normalization of the relations with Armenia as well as both sides to
open up archives and the Yerevan administration is expected to adopt a
similar approach, Sensoy added.
"I am glad to declare that the two countries are close to normalizing
relations... I had gone through what happened in 2007 and I don't want
to see this period repeated," the ambassador said, adding "We have to
focus on the positive sides of the bilateral relations."
He also warned that there is a good chance for Turkey and Armenia to
discuss directly the issues unless there is a legislation or statement
recognizing the Armenian claims regarding the 1915 incidents.
In a response to a question Sensoy said Obama was invited to the
Alliance of Civilizations meeting which will be held in Turkey in
April.
Feb 21 2009
Turkey-US relations to improve if no wrong steps on Armenian issue
Turkey hopes the new Washington administration will understand the
importance of the country before it takes a step to recognize the
Armenian claims regarding the 1915 incident, the Turkish ambassador to
the U.S. said.
"The Turkish nation is ready to struggle altogether (against the
efforts to have the Armenian claims recognized in the U.S.). Therefore
I hope that the officials in the new U.S. administration will
understand the importance of Turkey, the meaning of this issue to the
Turkish people and the harm it will bring to the Turkish-American
relations," Ambassador Nabi Sensoy told reporters in New York late on
Friday.
U.S. President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton had pledged to recognize the Armenian claims
during the election campaign.
So far the Washington administration had stepped in to block the
legislations in the Congress that would recognize the Armenian claims
due to the strategic partnership between Turkey and the U.S.
Sensoy recalled in 2007 he was called back to Ankara to protest the
attempts to have the Armenian claims recognized in the Congress.
"That happened for the first time in our history. This was a protest
of the American policy. Everybody understood the seriousness of the
issue and retreated from taking such wrong step. Now we face the same
danger," he was quoted as saying by the state-run Anatolian Agency.
The issue of the 1915 incidents is highly sensitive for Turkey as well
as Armenia. Around 300,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks, died
in civil strife that emerged when Armenians took up arms, backed by
Russia, for independence in eastern Anatolia.
However Armenia, with the backing of the diaspora, claims up to 1.5
million of their kin were slaughtered in orchestrated killings in
1915. The issue remains unsolved as Armenia drags its feet in
accepting Turkey's proposal of forming a commission to investigate the
claims.
TURKEY-ARMENIA CLOSE TO NORMALIZATION
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has expressed his hopes for the
normalization of the relations with Armenia as well as both sides to
open up archives and the Yerevan administration is expected to adopt a
similar approach, Sensoy added.
"I am glad to declare that the two countries are close to normalizing
relations... I had gone through what happened in 2007 and I don't want
to see this period repeated," the ambassador said, adding "We have to
focus on the positive sides of the bilateral relations."
He also warned that there is a good chance for Turkey and Armenia to
discuss directly the issues unless there is a legislation or statement
recognizing the Armenian claims regarding the 1915 incidents.
In a response to a question Sensoy said Obama was invited to the
Alliance of Civilizations meeting which will be held in Turkey in
April.
The Jerusalem Post.
Feb 22, 2009 13:22 | Updated Feb 22, 2009 13:23
Turks appear to set conditions for relations with US
The Turkish ambassador to the US, Nabi Sensoy, told a group of
American reporters on Friday that he hoped the new US administration
would recognize the importance of the so-called Armenian issue to
Turkey and the negative effects that a recognition of Armenian claims
might have for Turkish-US relations, the Turkish daily Hurriyet
reported.
Slideshow: Pictures of the week In 1915, the Ottoman Empire, on whose
ruins modern Turkey is built, launched a campaign against the
country's Armenian minority which lived in the eastern part of the
country, that left an estimated one and a half million Armenians dead
and even more fleeing the country.
So far Turkey has refused to recognize the claim of responsibility
sought by Armenians.
In the Turkish media, the events are described as an armed struggle
between the Ottoman Empire and Armenian nationals backed by Russia
which left 300,000 dead on each side.
The coverage of the issue is the subject of one of the most
controversial laws of Turkish media, article 301, under which it is
illegal to insult Turkey, the Turkish nation and Turkish government
institutions.
The law has been severely criticized by media freedom organizations,
as well as the European Union, which Ankara wants to join.
US President Barack Obama, as well as Vice President Joe Biden and
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton all pledged during last year's US
election campaign that they would recognize the Armenian claim.
In 2007, Sensoy was recalled to Ankara to protest the attempts to have
the Armenian claim recognized by Congress.
Feb 22, 2009 13:22 | Updated Feb 22, 2009 13:23
Turks appear to set conditions for relations with US
The Turkish ambassador to the US, Nabi Sensoy, told a group of
American reporters on Friday that he hoped the new US administration
would recognize the importance of the so-called Armenian issue to
Turkey and the negative effects that a recognition of Armenian claims
might have for Turkish-US relations, the Turkish daily Hurriyet
reported.
Slideshow: Pictures of the week In 1915, the Ottoman Empire, on whose
ruins modern Turkey is built, launched a campaign against the
country's Armenian minority which lived in the eastern part of the
country, that left an estimated one and a half million Armenians dead
and even more fleeing the country.
So far Turkey has refused to recognize the claim of responsibility
sought by Armenians.
In the Turkish media, the events are described as an armed struggle
between the Ottoman Empire and Armenian nationals backed by Russia
which left 300,000 dead on each side.
The coverage of the issue is the subject of one of the most
controversial laws of Turkish media, article 301, under which it is
illegal to insult Turkey, the Turkish nation and Turkish government
institutions.
The law has been severely criticized by media freedom organizations,
as well as the European Union, which Ankara wants to join.
US President Barack Obama, as well as Vice President Joe Biden and
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton all pledged during last year's US
election campaign that they would recognize the Armenian claim.
In 2007, Sensoy was recalled to Ankara to protest the attempts to have
the Armenian claim recognized by Congress.
TODAY'S ZAMAN Ä°STANBUL
Feb 23, 2009
ANCA places Turkey in `genocide axis' with Sudan
An influential Armenian-American group has stepped up its campaign for
recognition of claims that 1.5 million Armenians were subjected to
genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century,
telling US congressmen that Turkey is part of an emerging "axis of
genocide" with Sudan.
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) said in a statement
that it had alerted members of Congress last week that "Ankara is
playing an increasingly dangerous role in blocking decisive
international action to end the genocide in Darfur," claiming that
Ankara has been selling lethal weaponry to Sudan, providing diplomatic
support for the Sudanese government in the face of international
criticism over its Darfur policy and using its UN Security Council
membership "to block anti-genocide efforts."
Human rights groups criticize Turkey for its close ties with Sudan,
whose leader, Omar al-Bashir, has been indicted at the International
Criminal Court on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity in
Darfur. Turkish leaders have avoided accusing Sudan of genocide,
calling instead for an end to Darfur's "humanitarian tragedy."
The American-Armenian lobby groups, of which ANCA is one of the
strongest, have been pressuring the US Congress to pass a resolution
recognizing their claims that World War I-era events in Anatolia
constituted genocide. The pressure on the US administration is also
high, as April 24, when Armenians say the genocide campaign started in
1915, is approaching.
American presidents issue messages on this day every year, but no
president has ever used the word genocide in his message. Turks
cheered election of Barack Obama as US president, but Ankara is wary
that relations could receive a serious blow if he goes ahead with his
election campaign promises and supports claims that up to 1.5 million
Armenians were victims of a systematic genocide campaign in the
Ottoman Empire.
The "genocide axis" claims spread by ANCA are likely to upset Ankara,
but the Turkish government may find a recent speech by a pro-Armenian
congressman even more appalling. Republican Rep. Frank Pallone Jr.,
co-chairman of the Armenian Caucus, said in a Feb. 13 speech on the
House floor that Turkey was guilty of "hypocrisy" as it levels human
rights charges against Israel for its Gaza operation in January while
it continues to deny the "Armenian genocide." Rep. Pallone (D-NJ)
sharply criticized Turkey's hypocrisy in leveling human rights charges
against Israel even as it continues to deny the Armenian genocide and
strengthen its ties to the genocidal Sudanese regime, ANCA
reported. "For a nation that for 94 years has practiced wide-spread
genocide denial of the killing of one-and-a-half million Armenians,
hypocrisy runs deep today in Ankara," Pallone said, according to a
statement from ANCA. "The Turkish people need to step back and
question their skewed understanding of genocide. Look in the mirror,
look at your own history, come to terms with the fact that 1.5 million
Armenians died and when contemporary genocides, like Darfur, take
place it must be denounced."
BIA, Turkey
Feb 22 2009
UNESCO: 15 Languages Endangered in Turkey
According to the Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger published by
UNESCO prior to 21 February, International Mother Language Day, 15
languages are endangered in Turkey, and Turkey is doing nothing to
save them.
Bıa news centre - Paris 22-02-2009
Tolga KORKUT - tolgakorkut@bianet.org
21 February, International Mother Language Day, has been marked with
the publication of a new edition of the "Atlas of the World's
Languages in Danger". The United Nations' Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has published an interactive digital
Atlas based on information collected by over 30 linguists.
The degree of danger that languages face has been expressed in five
different categories:
-unsafe
-definitely endangered
-severely endangered
-critically endangered
-extinct
-Many languages affected
A staggering total of 2,500 languages is affected, a large percentage
of the 6,700 languages spoken today. Of these 2,500, around 230 have
been extinct since the 1950s. As for Turkey, the atlas says that 15
languages are endangered, and three more are extinct.
Fifteen endangered, three extinct in Turkey
Four languages in Turkey were categorised as unsafe: Zazaki, Abkhaz,
Adyge, and Kabard-Cherkes.
Definitely endangered are: Abaza, Homshetsma, Laz, Pontus Greek,
Romani, Suret (a language similar to Assyrian) and Western Armenian.
Three languages are severely endangered: Gagavuz, a language spoken
mostly in Moldova and by a diaspora in Turkey, Assyrian and Ladino,
the language spoken by the Sephardic Jewish community in Turkey.
One more language is critically endangered: Hértevin, a
language that used to be spoken in the province of Siirt in the
southeast of Turkey. In 1999, there were 1,000 speakers left.
The UNESCO Atlas says that three languages have become extinct in
Turkey. Cappadocian Greek is extinct in Turkey and critically
endangered worldwide. A language called Mlahso, which was spoken in
the Lice district of Diyarbakır became extinct when its last
speaker died in 1995. A language called Ubykh was lost with the death
of its last registered speaker in 1992.
Factors affecting language vitality
In order to measure the danger a language is in, UNESCOuses nine criteria:
-Absolute number of speakers
-Intergenerational language transmission
-Community members' attitude towards their own language
-Shifts in domains of language use
-Governmental and institutional language attitudes and policies,
including official status and use
-Type and quality of documentation
-Response to new domains and media
-Availability of materials for language education and literacy
-Proportion of speakers within the total population
UNESCO runs safeguarding projects for languages in different
countries, working towards strengthening the use of languages in
culture, education, communication and science. However, no such
language protection programmes are run in Turkey.
How can a language be prevented from disappearing?
As UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura stressed, `The
death of a language leads to the disappearance of many forms of
intangible cultural heritage, especially the invaluable heritage of
traditions and oral expressions of the community that spoke it ` from
poems and legends to proverbs and jokes. The loss of languages is also
detrimental to humanity's grasp of biodiversity, as they transmit much
knowledge about the nature and the universe.'
Thus it is important to protect languages. According to UNESCO's
website,
"The most important thing that can be done to keep a language from
disappearing is to create favourable conditions for its speakers to
speak the language and teach it to their children. This often requires
national policies that recognize and protect minority languages,
education systems that promote mother-tongue instruction, and creative
collaboration between community members and linguists to develop a
writing system and introduce formal instruction in the language."
"Since the most crucial factor is the attitude of the speaker
community toward its own language, it is essential to create a social
and political environment that encourages multilingualism and respect
for minority languages so that speaking such a language is an asset
rather than a liability. Some languages now have so few speakers that
they cannot be maintained, but linguists can, if the community so
wishes, record as much of the language as possible so that it does not
disappear without a trace."
Readers interested in some of the many languages spoken in Turkey are
referred to the links on mother languages in Turkey to the right of
this article. (TK/AG).
Feb 22 2009
UNESCO: 15 Languages Endangered in Turkey
According to the Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger published by
UNESCO prior to 21 February, International Mother Language Day, 15
languages are endangered in Turkey, and Turkey is doing nothing to
save them.
Bıa news centre - Paris 22-02-2009
Tolga KORKUT - tolgakorkut@bianet.org
21 February, International Mother Language Day, has been marked with
the publication of a new edition of the "Atlas of the World's
Languages in Danger". The United Nations' Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has published an interactive digital
Atlas based on information collected by over 30 linguists.
The degree of danger that languages face has been expressed in five
different categories:
-unsafe
-definitely endangered
-severely endangered
-critically endangered
-extinct
-Many languages affected
A staggering total of 2,500 languages is affected, a large percentage
of the 6,700 languages spoken today. Of these 2,500, around 230 have
been extinct since the 1950s. As for Turkey, the atlas says that 15
languages are endangered, and three more are extinct.
Fifteen endangered, three extinct in Turkey
Four languages in Turkey were categorised as unsafe: Zazaki, Abkhaz,
Adyge, and Kabard-Cherkes.
Definitely endangered are: Abaza, Homshetsma, Laz, Pontus Greek,
Romani, Suret (a language similar to Assyrian) and Western Armenian.
Three languages are severely endangered: Gagavuz, a language spoken
mostly in Moldova and by a diaspora in Turkey, Assyrian and Ladino,
the language spoken by the Sephardic Jewish community in Turkey.
One more language is critically endangered: Hértevin, a
language that used to be spoken in the province of Siirt in the
southeast of Turkey. In 1999, there were 1,000 speakers left.
The UNESCO Atlas says that three languages have become extinct in
Turkey. Cappadocian Greek is extinct in Turkey and critically
endangered worldwide. A language called Mlahso, which was spoken in
the Lice district of Diyarbakır became extinct when its last
speaker died in 1995. A language called Ubykh was lost with the death
of its last registered speaker in 1992.
Factors affecting language vitality
In order to measure the danger a language is in, UNESCOuses nine criteria:
-Absolute number of speakers
-Intergenerational language transmission
-Community members' attitude towards their own language
-Shifts in domains of language use
-Governmental and institutional language attitudes and policies,
including official status and use
-Type and quality of documentation
-Response to new domains and media
-Availability of materials for language education and literacy
-Proportion of speakers within the total population
UNESCO runs safeguarding projects for languages in different
countries, working towards strengthening the use of languages in
culture, education, communication and science. However, no such
language protection programmes are run in Turkey.
How can a language be prevented from disappearing?
As UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura stressed, `The
death of a language leads to the disappearance of many forms of
intangible cultural heritage, especially the invaluable heritage of
traditions and oral expressions of the community that spoke it ` from
poems and legends to proverbs and jokes. The loss of languages is also
detrimental to humanity's grasp of biodiversity, as they transmit much
knowledge about the nature and the universe.'
Thus it is important to protect languages. According to UNESCO's
website,
"The most important thing that can be done to keep a language from
disappearing is to create favourable conditions for its speakers to
speak the language and teach it to their children. This often requires
national policies that recognize and protect minority languages,
education systems that promote mother-tongue instruction, and creative
collaboration between community members and linguists to develop a
writing system and introduce formal instruction in the language."
"Since the most crucial factor is the attitude of the speaker
community toward its own language, it is essential to create a social
and political environment that encourages multilingualism and respect
for minority languages so that speaking such a language is an asset
rather than a liability. Some languages now have so few speakers that
they cannot be maintained, but linguists can, if the community so
wishes, record as much of the language as possible so that it does not
disappear without a trace."
Readers interested in some of the many languages spoken in Turkey are
referred to the links on mother languages in Turkey to the right of
this article. (TK/AG).
APA, Azerbaijan
Feb 14 2009
Azerbaijan's Air Defence Force "most powerful" in South Caucasus - agency
Azerbaijan has "the most powerful" Air Defence Force in the South
Caucasus, the Baku-based APA news agency has reported. It also
published information on the number and type of military planes,
helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles that Azerbaijan, Armenia and
Georgia have. The report also provided information on projects to
modernize Azerbaijan's Air Defence Force. The following is an excerpt
from report by private Azerbaijani news agency APA published on 14
February; subheadings inserted editorially:
Baku, 14 February: The Azerbaijani Air Defence Force marks the
anniversary of its establishment on 14 February. The Azerbaijani Air
Defence Force is currently regarded as the most powerful in the South
Caucasus because of the number of its aircraft, state-of-the-art
military equipment and the highest skills of pilots.
Azerbaijan has gained superiority in the air defence sphere in the
South Caucasus region over the past nine years by modernizing its Air
Defence Force and increasing the number of aircraft. Azerbaijan will
continue to increase the capacity of its military aviation in the next
five years as well. It was recently noted that 50 per cent of the
aircraft fleet of the Air Defence Force will be modernized owing to
state-of-the-art warplanes in 2008-10. The Azerbaijani Air Defence
Force will also be supplied with JF-17 Thunder, Su-27 and Su-30
aircraft by 2015. Purchase of modern MiG aircraft is also expected.
The development trends for the Azerbaijani Air Defence Force are
these: purchasing modern aircraft and helicopters; modernizing
aviation equipment; modernizing control centres and command posts;
improving the professional skills of and training aviation personnel;
and increasing the number of aircraft owing to domestic production.
The state of war [with Armenia] and a favourable landscape, as well as
the main air bases of the former Soviet army in the South Caucasus
deployed in Azerbaijan created an opportunity for Azerbaijan to
develop its armed forces after it gained independence.
It must be noted that according to the Treaty on Conventional Armed
Forces in Europe Azerbaijan retains the right to keep 100 warplanes
and 50 helicopters.
Azeri Air Defence Force fleet
The Azerbaijani Air Defence Force is mainly equipped with Soviet-made
MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-25, Su-24 and Su-25 aircraft, as well as
"fourth-generation" MiG-29 aircraft purchased from Ukraine in
2006. The Soviet-made Il-79 and An military transportation planes and
the long-range Tu-16 twin-engine jet bombers which have remained from
the Soviet period are also part of the arsenal of the Azerbaijani Air
Defence Force. Negotiations with Pakistan on the purchase of JF-17
Thunder aircraft are under way.
Moreover, Czech- and Ukrainian-made L-29 and L-39 training jet
aircraft, as well as Yak planes which are for carrying airborne
troops, that belong to the State Border Service and the Voluntary
Military Patriotism and Technical Sports Society can also be [regarded
as] part of the arsenal of the Air Defence Force.
The helicopter fleet is mainly equipped with Soviet-made helicopters,
including Russian-made Mi-27, Mi-8 and Mi-6 helicopters. An agreement
on the purchase of Mi-171 helicopters was signed with Russia last
year. The State Border Service, the Interior Troops and the Ministry
of Emergency Situations also have helicopter squadrons, like the Air
Defence Force does.
The Azerbaijani Air Defence Force has six Orbiter and Aerostar
unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) manufactured by the Israeli Aeronautics
company. These UAVs were demonstrated at a military parade held in
Baku last year. According to the Israeli media, Azerbaijan is
currently holding negotiations on the purchase of Hermes and Heron-TP
unmanned aerial vehicles.
Air fleet in South Caucasus countries
Aircraft in the air fleet of the South Caucasus countries (year 2008)
[info is given in the form of a table:]
Azerbaijan: MiG-21 - 21 [pieces], MiG-25 - 31, MiG-29 - 49, Su-17 -
4/26 [as given], L-29 - 8, L-39 - 12, Il-76 - 3, Yak-52 - 12, An-12 -
1, An-24 - 1, Tu-134 - 1, Mi-24 - 49, Mi-8 - 13.
Georgia: Su-25 - 24, L-29 - 2, L-39 - 18, An-24 - 1, An-32 - 1, Tu-134
- 2.
Armenia: MiG-25 - 1, Su-25 - 15, L-29 - 4, Yak-52 - 16.
Helicopters in the air fleet of the South Caucasus countries (year
2008) [info is given in the form of a table:]
Azerbaijan: Mi-2 - ? [question mark as given, presumably meaning that
the number of helicopters is not available], Mi-6 - 4, Mi-8 - 13, Mi-9
- ?, Mi-24 - 49, Mi-17 - 4, Mi-171 - 6, Bell UN - none;
Georgia: Mi-2 - 7, Mi-8 - 18, Mi-24 - 12, Bell UN-1H - 8; Armenia:
Mi-2 - 9, Mi-8 - 16, Mi-9 - 2, Mi-24 - 16, Mi-17 - 3.
Unmanned aerial vehicles in the South Caucasus countries: Azerbaijan -
6, Georgia - 24, Armenia - none.
Foreign support to Azeri Air Defence Force
Azerbaijani pilots are trained at Azerbaijan's High Military Aviation
College. Training flights are held at military bases. Exchange of
experience is held with Turkey, Ukraine, the USA, as well as some NATO
member countries. Azerbaijani pilots are also trained at a Turkish
aviation college and attend training courses in Ukraine. Azerbaijani
military pilots are regarded as ones who fly most of all in the CIS.
The USA plays an important role in modernizing the Azerbaijani Air
Defence Force. The military aerodromes of the Air Defence Force in
Qala and Haci Zeynalabdin Tagiyev settlements have been modernized
with the support of the USA within the framework of the Individual
Partnership Action Plan signed between Azerbaijan and NATO. There is
special equipment installed at the military aerodromes to ensure
safety of flights. The main command post, engineering control
facilities and a building for aeronautical engineering staff have
already been commissioned there. Discussions on modernization of other
aerodromes (Kurdamir air base) are under way. Both aerodromes [in Qala
and Haci Zeynalabdin Tagiyev settlements] are used by NATO aircraft
flying to Afghanistan. In 2008 the USA allocated 4.2m dollars in aid
to Azerbaijan to install an air traffic control system in line with
NATO standards.
The most up-to-date air traffic control system has been installed at
the Dallar aerodrome with the support of the USA.
It must be noted that Turkey has been participating in the
implementation of a project to modernize the central command post of
the Air Defence Force since September 2008. Under an agreement, the
central command control post will be constructed in line with NATO
standards with the support of Turkey. A number of joint projects to
manufacture Attack military helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles
with Turkey will be implemented in the near future.
Azerbaijan's main aircraft supplier is Ukraine. Under an agreement to
the tune of 125,000 dollars, Ukraine supplied Azerbaijan with
fourth-generation MiG-29 aircraft in 2005.
The Czech Aero Trade company is also holding negotiations with
Azerbaijan on the sale of L-39 aircraft. According to the
director-general of the [Czech] company, Zdenek Prokop, the company
has already sent several L-39 aircraft to Azerbaijan. Some of these
were demonstrated in a military parade held in Baku on 26 June 2008.
[translated from Azeri]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Feb 14 2009
Azerbaijan's Air Defence Force "most powerful" in South Caucasus - agency
Azerbaijan has "the most powerful" Air Defence Force in the South
Caucasus, the Baku-based APA news agency has reported. It also
published information on the number and type of military planes,
helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles that Azerbaijan, Armenia and
Georgia have. The report also provided information on projects to
modernize Azerbaijan's Air Defence Force. The following is an excerpt
from report by private Azerbaijani news agency APA published on 14
February; subheadings inserted editorially:
Baku, 14 February: The Azerbaijani Air Defence Force marks the
anniversary of its establishment on 14 February. The Azerbaijani Air
Defence Force is currently regarded as the most powerful in the South
Caucasus because of the number of its aircraft, state-of-the-art
military equipment and the highest skills of pilots.
Azerbaijan has gained superiority in the air defence sphere in the
South Caucasus region over the past nine years by modernizing its Air
Defence Force and increasing the number of aircraft. Azerbaijan will
continue to increase the capacity of its military aviation in the next
five years as well. It was recently noted that 50 per cent of the
aircraft fleet of the Air Defence Force will be modernized owing to
state-of-the-art warplanes in 2008-10. The Azerbaijani Air Defence
Force will also be supplied with JF-17 Thunder, Su-27 and Su-30
aircraft by 2015. Purchase of modern MiG aircraft is also expected.
The development trends for the Azerbaijani Air Defence Force are
these: purchasing modern aircraft and helicopters; modernizing
aviation equipment; modernizing control centres and command posts;
improving the professional skills of and training aviation personnel;
and increasing the number of aircraft owing to domestic production.
The state of war [with Armenia] and a favourable landscape, as well as
the main air bases of the former Soviet army in the South Caucasus
deployed in Azerbaijan created an opportunity for Azerbaijan to
develop its armed forces after it gained independence.
It must be noted that according to the Treaty on Conventional Armed
Forces in Europe Azerbaijan retains the right to keep 100 warplanes
and 50 helicopters.
Azeri Air Defence Force fleet
The Azerbaijani Air Defence Force is mainly equipped with Soviet-made
MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-25, Su-24 and Su-25 aircraft, as well as
"fourth-generation" MiG-29 aircraft purchased from Ukraine in
2006. The Soviet-made Il-79 and An military transportation planes and
the long-range Tu-16 twin-engine jet bombers which have remained from
the Soviet period are also part of the arsenal of the Azerbaijani Air
Defence Force. Negotiations with Pakistan on the purchase of JF-17
Thunder aircraft are under way.
Moreover, Czech- and Ukrainian-made L-29 and L-39 training jet
aircraft, as well as Yak planes which are for carrying airborne
troops, that belong to the State Border Service and the Voluntary
Military Patriotism and Technical Sports Society can also be [regarded
as] part of the arsenal of the Air Defence Force.
The helicopter fleet is mainly equipped with Soviet-made helicopters,
including Russian-made Mi-27, Mi-8 and Mi-6 helicopters. An agreement
on the purchase of Mi-171 helicopters was signed with Russia last
year. The State Border Service, the Interior Troops and the Ministry
of Emergency Situations also have helicopter squadrons, like the Air
Defence Force does.
The Azerbaijani Air Defence Force has six Orbiter and Aerostar
unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) manufactured by the Israeli Aeronautics
company. These UAVs were demonstrated at a military parade held in
Baku last year. According to the Israeli media, Azerbaijan is
currently holding negotiations on the purchase of Hermes and Heron-TP
unmanned aerial vehicles.
Air fleet in South Caucasus countries
Aircraft in the air fleet of the South Caucasus countries (year 2008)
[info is given in the form of a table:]
Azerbaijan: MiG-21 - 21 [pieces], MiG-25 - 31, MiG-29 - 49, Su-17 -
4/26 [as given], L-29 - 8, L-39 - 12, Il-76 - 3, Yak-52 - 12, An-12 -
1, An-24 - 1, Tu-134 - 1, Mi-24 - 49, Mi-8 - 13.
Georgia: Su-25 - 24, L-29 - 2, L-39 - 18, An-24 - 1, An-32 - 1, Tu-134
- 2.
Armenia: MiG-25 - 1, Su-25 - 15, L-29 - 4, Yak-52 - 16.
Helicopters in the air fleet of the South Caucasus countries (year
2008) [info is given in the form of a table:]
Azerbaijan: Mi-2 - ? [question mark as given, presumably meaning that
the number of helicopters is not available], Mi-6 - 4, Mi-8 - 13, Mi-9
- ?, Mi-24 - 49, Mi-17 - 4, Mi-171 - 6, Bell UN - none;
Georgia: Mi-2 - 7, Mi-8 - 18, Mi-24 - 12, Bell UN-1H - 8; Armenia:
Mi-2 - 9, Mi-8 - 16, Mi-9 - 2, Mi-24 - 16, Mi-17 - 3.
Unmanned aerial vehicles in the South Caucasus countries: Azerbaijan -
6, Georgia - 24, Armenia - none.
Foreign support to Azeri Air Defence Force
Azerbaijani pilots are trained at Azerbaijan's High Military Aviation
College. Training flights are held at military bases. Exchange of
experience is held with Turkey, Ukraine, the USA, as well as some NATO
member countries. Azerbaijani pilots are also trained at a Turkish
aviation college and attend training courses in Ukraine. Azerbaijani
military pilots are regarded as ones who fly most of all in the CIS.
The USA plays an important role in modernizing the Azerbaijani Air
Defence Force. The military aerodromes of the Air Defence Force in
Qala and Haci Zeynalabdin Tagiyev settlements have been modernized
with the support of the USA within the framework of the Individual
Partnership Action Plan signed between Azerbaijan and NATO. There is
special equipment installed at the military aerodromes to ensure
safety of flights. The main command post, engineering control
facilities and a building for aeronautical engineering staff have
already been commissioned there. Discussions on modernization of other
aerodromes (Kurdamir air base) are under way. Both aerodromes [in Qala
and Haci Zeynalabdin Tagiyev settlements] are used by NATO aircraft
flying to Afghanistan. In 2008 the USA allocated 4.2m dollars in aid
to Azerbaijan to install an air traffic control system in line with
NATO standards.
The most up-to-date air traffic control system has been installed at
the Dallar aerodrome with the support of the USA.
It must be noted that Turkey has been participating in the
implementation of a project to modernize the central command post of
the Air Defence Force since September 2008. Under an agreement, the
central command control post will be constructed in line with NATO
standards with the support of Turkey. A number of joint projects to
manufacture Attack military helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles
with Turkey will be implemented in the near future.
Azerbaijan's main aircraft supplier is Ukraine. Under an agreement to
the tune of 125,000 dollars, Ukraine supplied Azerbaijan with
fourth-generation MiG-29 aircraft in 2005.
The Czech Aero Trade company is also holding negotiations with
Azerbaijan on the sale of L-39 aircraft. According to the
director-general of the [Czech] company, Zdenek Prokop, the company
has already sent several L-39 aircraft to Azerbaijan. Some of these
were demonstrated in a military parade held in Baku on 26 June 2008.
[translated from Azeri]
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