Armenia did not accept the idea of the possibility of Azerbaijan restoring its territorial integrity at all, it did not allow this, Report informs that ex-Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov said this in an interview with Media Director of Global Media Group Hamid Hamidov on Baku TV.

“During that period when I spoke with them (Armenian officials – ed.), they did not understand it. I told all my counterparts from Armenia that you would lead to the fact that there would still be war. We may not even call it a war, but there will be a crisis, a controlled crisis. As a result, it happened so,” E. Mammadyarov said.

He noted that if initially, Armenia expressed readiness for constructive negotiations, then later it changed its point of view.

“Over recent years, they have said that we would not be able to ‘sell’ this to the Armenian population. They openly stated that ‘we understand everything, but we will not be able to ‘sell’ this to the population, they will not accept it,” the ex-minister noted.

Mammadyarov noted that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs also understood that the situation had reached a dead end.

“An interesting incident happened when I once again told the co-chairs that everything would end in a crisis, one of them exclaimed: “Make a crisis so that we get off the ground.” The co-chairs understood that they reached an impasse,” E. Mammadyarov stressed.

The diplomat said that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, following the results of the Patriotic War, in addition to the liberation of the occupied territories, returned the self-respect of the Azerbaijani nation. “This is very important psychologically. Believe me, as a person who was in direct contact with the Armenian side,” he stressed.

According to the combat training plan for 2022, the Rocket and Artillery Units of the Azerbaijan Army are conducting the live-fire tactical exercises, Report informs, citing Defense Ministry.

During the exercises, held to improve fire control skills in cooperation with other types of troops and the command staff’s prompt decision-making abilities, as well as field and practical skills of military personnel, artillery units were withdrawn to assembly areas and took firing positions in designated areas.

Units successfully fulfill the tasks of destroying imaginary enemy targets with accurate fire.

The world’s first cargo-carrying self-propelled air cushion barge was built in Azerbaijan, Report informs, citing Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO).

The project owner and customer of the barge named ACB Argymak is Caspian Mainport Aktau LLP”/ CMI Offshore Group. Although the construction work of the watercraft had begun at the Glasgow Shipyard in Scotland in 2019, all construction works were interrupted and suspended at the initial stage due to the insolvency of the company.

Later on, negotiations commenced between Caspian Mainport Aktau LLP / CMI Offshore Group and Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping (ASCO) for the implementation of the project. As a result of negotiations, the hull of the barge was dismantled and divided into two sections in Glasgow and transported to Azerbaijan by a dry cargo vessel.

The construction of the barge in Azerbaijan commenced at the dock of Zykh Ship Repair and Construction Yard, owned by ASCO. Along with the participation of external specialists, human and technical resources from” Zigh” Ship Repair and Construction Yard and “Khazar” LLC have been involved in the construction process. The construction of the barge was completed shortly. Trials of the ACB Argymak have now been accomplished successfully. The barge received a classification certificate from the Italian classification society “RINA Services S.p.A”. Currently, other necessary documentation is being carried out. Upon completion of the floating process, the facility will be sent to Kazakhstan. The barge will be operated at the Kashagan field.

The unique project is 56 meters long and 24 meters wide. The maximum speed of the barge with a carrying capacity of 150 tons is equal to 6 knots. The ACB Argymak will be operated by a crew consisting of 6 members.

Two pieces of water and two pieces of air propellers were installed on the self-propelled cargo-carrying barge, which is designed for operation in relatively shallow waters. This makes it possible to exploit the barge even in iced waters.

It is worth noting that the construction of the world’s first self-propelled cargo-carrying barge was a great experience for ASCO. It is intended to implement in the future similar new projects based on such experience.

The amphibious aircraft of Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations continues to successfully extinguish wildfires in the Marmaris region of the Turkish province of Mugla.

“Anatolian Eagle – 2022” International Flight-Tactical Exercises are being held in Konya, Türkiye, Report informs, citing the Defence Ministry of Azerbaijan.

During the first stage of the exercises, the instructors, according to the plan, informed participants about the safety rules and explained issues related to the flight and other tasks.

The military pilots destroyed the imaginary enemy’s air defence means and carried out airstrikes on the designated targets.

The assigned tasks were successfully fulfilled during the exercises.

The international flight-tactical exercises will last until July 1.

As part of the reforms carried out in the Azerbaijan Army under the instruction of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, activities on creating a military infrastructure that meets modern standards and increasing the combat training of the units continue, MoD told Report.

The Minister of Defense Colonel General Zakir Hasanov and the leadership of the Ministry got acquainted with the work carried out at the military facilities being under construction in Kalbajar and Lachin.

The construction of barracks and office premises, a bath and laundry complex, a medical point, and other infrastructure facilities, as well as their provision with modern equipment, are planned to organize military police service at a high level in the liberated territories.

Then Colonel General Hasanov inspected the warehouses of logistics being under construction. It was emphasized that in order to organize the continual and sustainable activity of the troops, regardless of the climatic conditions and terrain, the units will be centrally provided with ammunition, fuel, and lubricants, as well as other necessary spare parts and equipment through warehouses built with the consideration of modern requirements.

Having checked the progress of construction work, the Minister of Defense gave relevant instructions on strict compliance with safety rules, high quality, and timely completion of construction.

Around 1,700 people from 13 villages in Spain were forced to evacuate their homes due to wildfires raging across the country, while much of Europe suffered an early heatwave.

Under the instruction of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, the Minister of Defense Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, and the leadership of the Ministry met with military personnel serving in combat positions stationed in the territory of the Kalbajar and Lachin districts of the state border, MoD told Report.

Having met with servicemen serving in areas with harsh climatic conditions and difficult terrain, the Minister highly appreciated their combat and moral-psychological training.

Then Colonel-General Hasanov observed the activities of the opposing side from the observation posts and checked the capabilities of optical surveillance devices and technical means.

The Minister got acquainted with the conditions created in the accommodation points and was reported that all the necessary infrastructure was created here to ensure qualitative organization and conduct of combat duty.

In the end, the Defense Minister noted that the work aimed at improving the social and living conditions of servicemen would continue in the future. The Minister gave relevant instructions to the command staff on further improving the combat capability of the units and ensuring stable defense.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky visits the country’s war-ridden east for the first time since the Russian invasion.

The visit of a delegation led by the Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Türkiye Hulusi Akar to Azerbaijan ended on May 29, Report informs, citing the Azerbaijani Defense Minister.

As part of the visit, the delegation, which included the Chief of the General Staff and the commanders of the forces of the Republic of Türkiye, visited several military units.

The Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, and the Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Türkiye Hulusi Akar got acquainted with the military equipment available in the armament, as well as with the conditions created in classrooms and other military facilities. The military leaders of both countries met with servicemen and wished them success in their future service.

The Azerbaijan Minister of Defense Zakir Hasanov saw off the guests at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport.

Tasks assigned for the next stage of the “Efes-2022” multinational exercises held in Izmir, Turkey have been fulfilled, according to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

The tasks set at the “Anatolian Phoenix-2021” International Search and Rescue Exercises held in Konya, Turkiye have been successfully fulfilled, according to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

As part of the reforms carried out in the Azerbaijan Army under the instruction of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, measures to create a military infrastructure that meets modern standards and increase the combat readiness of the units successfully continue.

Report informs, citing the Ministry of Defense, that the Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, and the leadership of the Ministry inspected the military infrastructure recently commissioned at the Garaheybat Training Center.

It was reported to the Minister of Defense that training areas adapted to real combat conditions have been built for the practical application of modern combat methods.

Moreover, classes are conducted to improve servicemen’s practical skills in the management of various types of combat equipment in difficult terrain and severe weather conditions, as well as firing from them.

In the training areas, the Defense Minister watched the exemplary performances of cadets in the training course for long-term active military servicemen.

First, the practical fulfillment of standards for fire training and shooting exercises was demonstrated at the shooting range.

Then the Minister of Defense visited the tank shooting range. It was noted that methods of effective use of tanks in human settlements are worked out on the basis of the experience gained during the Patriotic War and recent combat operations.

Then an engineering camp was inspected. It was noted that in the camp, servicemen are provided with detailed information about various types of mines and ammunition. Moreover, the tasks of detecting mines and unexploded ordnance, as well as neutralizing them in compliance with safety rules are fulfilled by applying engineering equipment.

Having watched the cadets’ training on the “Scout Trail” obstacle course of the physical training camp, the Defense Minister visited the command-observation post of the artillery battery. The cadets successfully accomplished firing tasks using artillery simulators.

In the end, the Minister of Defense inspected the progress of construction work at military facilities under construction in the territory of the center.

Colonel General Z.Hasanov gave relevant instructions and recommendations on maintaining the combat readiness and professionalism of servicemen at a high level, studying and applying modern training methods, as well as the high-quality implementation of construction work.

Efes-2022 multinational exercises held in Izmir, Türkiye continue, report informs, citing the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

According to the international exercises plan, the servicemen carried out practical shooting with pistols, small arms and machine guns.

Moreover, the tasks of providing first aid to a wounded serviceman, safe evacuation, and conducting search-and-rescue operations were successfully accomplished.

The international exercises, involving servicemen of the Combined Arms Army and the Naval Forces, will last until June 9.

Turkish and Azerbaijani fighter aircrafts performed aerobatics in the sky over Baku on May 23, in preparation for the TEKNOFEST Azerbaijan festival.

A one-on-one meeting has got underway between President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the European Council Charles Michel in Brussels, Report informs via Azertag.

President of the European Council Charles Michel welcomed President Ilham Aliyev.

They then posed for photos.