BAKU (Noyan Tapan)–A retired general of the Azeri army–Tacaddin Mehdiyev–has stated Karabakh cannot be liberated peacefully–and has disclosed secret military information.
Mehdiyev believes the public should know that his organization–the National Resistance Movement (NRM)–has access to the latest information–including the number of heavy artillery and personnel in the army. At a regular meeting of the NRM–General Mehdiyev announced that Karabakh can only be liberated by means of war.
Tacaddin Mehdiyev said that in order to plan for an offensive operation–one must first know the enemy’s position. The general added that utilizing available reconnaissance planes will be accurate enough to allow the Azeris to determine the number of bikes on the enemy’s territory. The retired general noted that currently the Armenian military has four sections: an attack squadron–a helicopter unit–small military units and a 18,000-strong unit on the territory of Karabakh.
According to Mehdiyev–the Azeri army has five corps along with other military units. Azerbaijan has 220 tanks–220 infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers–and artillery guns and planes. In spite of this–the Azeri army is far from being a professional army–Tacaddin Mehdiyev says. According to him–it would be better for Azerbaijan to have 40,000 professional soldiers than 100,000 nonprofessional soldiers. The head of the defense ministry’s press service–Ramiz Malikov–accused Tacaddin Mehdiyev of disclosing secret information. Ramiz Malikov went on to say the way in which General Mehdiyev organized the defense of Camilli–Mesali–Malibayli–Karkicahan and Dasalti villages is an indication of the general’s capability and that the Azeri people are aware of this. Ramiz Malikov did not rule out the possibility of suing Tacaddin Mehdiyev.