Editing Azerbaijani Armed Forces (section)

===Dissolution of the Soviet armed forces===
During the Cold War, Azerbaijan had been the deployment area of units of the Soviet [[4th Army (Soviet Union)|4th Army]] whose principal formations in 1988 included four motor rifle divisions ([[23rd Guards Motor Rifle Division|23rd Guards]], [[60th Motor Rifle Division|60th]], 75th, and [[295th Motor Rifle Division|295th]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ww2.dk/new/army/armies/4oa.htm|title=4th Combined Arms Army|website=www.ww2.dk|access-date=2016-08-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161211115719/http://www.ww2.dk/new/army/armies/4oa.htm|archive-date=11 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[75th Motor Rifle Division]] was isolated in [[Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic|Nakhchivan]]. The 4th Army also included missile and air defense brigades and artillery and rocket regiments. The 75th Division's stores and equipment were apparently transferred to the Nakhchivan authorities.<ref>See reference at [[7th Guards Army]] article.</ref> Azerbaijan also hosted the 49th Arsenal of the Soviet [[Main Agency of Missiles and Artillery of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation|Main Agency of Missiles and Artillery]], which contained over 7,000 train-car loads of ammunition to the excess of one billion units.

The first president of Azerbaijan, [[Ayaz Mutallibov]], did not wish to build an independent army, wanting to rely instead largely on Soviet troops. Even when the Parliament decided that an army should be formed in September 1991, disagreements between the government and the opposition [[Azerbaijani Popular Front Party]] impeded creation of a unified force.<ref>International Crisis Group, Azerbaijan: Defence Sector Management and Reform Crisis Group Europe Briefing N°50, 29 October 2008, p.3</ref> Around this time, the first unit of the new army was formed on the basis of the 18–110 military unit of [[mechanized infantry]] of the [[Soviet Ground Forces]] (probably part of the [[4th Army (Soviet Union)|4th Army]]) located in [[Bibiheybət|Shikhov]], south of Baku.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dejure.az/index.php/cra-hakimiyyti/70-nazirliklr/99-azrbaycan-respublikas-muedafi-nazirliyi |title=Azərbaycan Respublikası Müdafiə Nazirliyi. 1991-dən sonra |trans-title=Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan Republic. Events after 1991 |access-date=1 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705150847/http://dejure.az/index.php/cra-hakimiyyti/70-nazirliklr/99-azrbaycan-respublikas-muedafi-nazirliyi |archive-date=5 July 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> At the time of the parliamentary decision, Lieutenant-General [[Valeh Barshadli]] became the first [[Minister of Defense (Azerbaijan)|Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan]], from 5 September to 11 December 1991.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://e-qanun.az/print.php?internal=view&target=1&docid=6648&doctype=0 |title=Azərbaycan Respublikası Müdafiə Nazirliyinin yaradılması haqqında AZƏRBAYCAN RESPUBLİKASI PREZİDENTİNİN FƏRMANI |trans-title=Order of President of Azerbaijan Republic on establishment of Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan Republic |access-date=5 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009183615/http://e-qanun.az/print.php?internal=view&target=1&docid=6648&doctype=0 |archive-date=9 October 2011 }}</ref> Later from May to 4 September 1992 he served as [[Chief of General Staff of Azerbaijani Armed Forces]].