16:02, 15 April 2014

Sumerinli: enlightenment can reduce non-combat losses in Azerbaijani Army

Azerbaijani woman holding portrait of the perished soldier during the rally against non-combat losses in the Army. Baku, March 10, 2013. Photo by Aziz Karimov for the ‘Caucasian Knot’.

As reported by the Centre of Military Journalistic Studies named "Doctrine", since the beginning of 2014, human losses in the Azerbaijani Armed Forces made 28 people; 19 of them are the so-called "non-combat" losses. In the opinion of Djasur Sumerinli, the head of the Centre, despite the change of the Minister of Defence of Azerbaijan last October, the problem of great non-combat losses remains – it cannot be solved without a complex of measures.

"In the first place, the atmosphere of impunity for soldiers' deaths in non-combat conditions should be eliminated. The public should have all information about each death and injury of a serviceman and the results of the investigation," said the expert.

According to his story, a consistent educational work should be carried out in military units. Mr Sumerinli notes that NATO's experience can be helpful. Furthermore, he believes it expedient to gradually transit to the contract system and stop recruiting conscripts.

Author: Faik Medzhid

Source: CK correspondent