05.Apr.2011
Unpopular Government Of Azerbaijan Starts Hawking Israeli Drones
Buy national pride
With energy exports providing plenty of spare cash, Azerbaijan is taking steps to produce Israeli-designed spy planes. Local analysts say the venture reflects Baku’s desire to become a major arms exporter to the South Caucasus, Central Asia and Middle East. …
At present, national pride more than a quest for profits appears to be driving efforts to build up Azerbaijan’s defense sector. “A few years ago, we did not have any military production, but now it is booming,” President Ilham Aliyev noted during a government meeting in early March. He also praised the five-year-old Ministry of Defense Industry as creating a model that other government agencies could emulate.
• Read more at www.eurasianet.org


