By Eva Sahakyan

Azerbaijani Borders are Guarded up to the Mark" width="250" height="203" />YEREVAN, August 12–”The Azerbaijani borders are guarded up to the mark on all directions — land and sea,” Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev announced in his speech delivered during the opening ceremony of the Academy of State Border Service.

“I have more than once been on all the borders. I have met with the staff, have gotten acquainted with the situation and I may safely say that our borders are guarded up to the mark,” Aliyev said. He promised to allocate more funds for solving the problem of “border safeguarding.”

He went on to boast about the perceived potentials that Azerbaijan possesses and to make new threats about relaunching a full-scale war with Armenia over the disputed territory of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

“We will reestablish the territorial integrity of our country. All military bodies are united under a single command and act by orders of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. At the right moment all the military bodies will act as a single concentrated force and will reestablish the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. This process requires strong economy and powerful military potential,” Aliyev said.

Ilham Aliyev continued his rant about Azeri might before making a curious reference to “invaders.”

“Azerbaijan grows stronger and stronger from day to day. Our financial opportunities and military expenses grow, which are in first place in the state budget. This is bound to be like this, as we live in war. The war is not over yet. The first stage is over, the cease-fire has been adopted. But the war continues. We must be ready at any moment and we are ready to liberate our land from invaders.”

Yerevan Report