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GATES TALKS STRENGTHEN AZERBAIJAN PARTNERSHIP
By John D. Banusiewicz
Department of Defense
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=59511
June 7 2010
USA
American Forces Press Service
ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT, June 7, 2010 - Calling Azerbaijan an
important partner in the coalition's efforts in Afghanistan, Defense
Secretary Robert M. Gates said he discussed a stronger military
relationship between Azerbaijan and the United States in meetings
with two of the country's leaders yesterday and today.
After arriving in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku yesterday, Gates
visited with President Ilham Aliyev, and met today with Defense
Minister Col. Gen. Safar Abiyev.
"They play an important part in Afghanistan, not only in terms of the
troops they have there - and also a civilian presence - but [through]
ground transportation and allowing over flights," Gates said, "so
[the visit] was partly to express appreciation for that."
Azerbaijani servicemembers are part of NATO's International Security
Assistance Force in Afghanistan, and the country is a key part of the
global air and ground network that resupplies ISAF and Afghan forces
and brings in supplies for construction projects.
The secretary delivered a letter to Aliyev from President Barack Obama
that expresses gratitude for Azerbaijan's contributions in Afghanistan,
saying such assistance has "strengthened your country's stature as a
steadfast security partner." The letter also conveys Obama's desire
for a broader and deeper future relationship between the two countries.
During his talks in Baku, Gates said, he and the Azerbaijani leaders
discussed strengthening the bilateral military relationship and the
possibility of further U.S. help with maritime security in the Caspian
Sea. "We already help them there with several tens of millions of
dollars, boats, radars and capabilities," the secretary said.
More military exercises and intelligence sharing also came up during
the meetings, he added, and the discussions also touched on Iran and
Russia. "These guys clearly live in a rough neighborhood," Gates said,
"and I told them at the same time how much the international community
appreciated what they were doing to help everybody in Afghanistan."
The Azerbaijani leaders expressed concern about a lack of progress
in a long-standing territorial dispute with Armenians in the
Nargorno-Karabakh region, Gates said, and he promised to relay the
message to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Obama also
mentioned the dispute in his letter to Aliyev, saying a peaceful
resolution is critical to the South Caucasus region and promising
support for such an outcome would remain a U.S. priority.
"All in all," Gates said, "I would say it was a very positive
visit, and I think it set the stage for further expansion of the
relationship. We will have a bilateral defense consultation next
month, where I think a lot of the things that we discussed will be
put on the table and perhaps fleshed out."
The secretary left Baku this morning, bound for London to meet with
leaders of the new British government.
From: A. Papazian
By John D. Banusiewicz
Department of Defense
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=59511
June 7 2010
USA
American Forces Press Service
ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT, June 7, 2010 - Calling Azerbaijan an
important partner in the coalition's efforts in Afghanistan, Defense
Secretary Robert M. Gates said he discussed a stronger military
relationship between Azerbaijan and the United States in meetings
with two of the country's leaders yesterday and today.
After arriving in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku yesterday, Gates
visited with President Ilham Aliyev, and met today with Defense
Minister Col. Gen. Safar Abiyev.
"They play an important part in Afghanistan, not only in terms of the
troops they have there - and also a civilian presence - but [through]
ground transportation and allowing over flights," Gates said, "so
[the visit] was partly to express appreciation for that."
Azerbaijani servicemembers are part of NATO's International Security
Assistance Force in Afghanistan, and the country is a key part of the
global air and ground network that resupplies ISAF and Afghan forces
and brings in supplies for construction projects.
The secretary delivered a letter to Aliyev from President Barack Obama
that expresses gratitude for Azerbaijan's contributions in Afghanistan,
saying such assistance has "strengthened your country's stature as a
steadfast security partner." The letter also conveys Obama's desire
for a broader and deeper future relationship between the two countries.
During his talks in Baku, Gates said, he and the Azerbaijani leaders
discussed strengthening the bilateral military relationship and the
possibility of further U.S. help with maritime security in the Caspian
Sea. "We already help them there with several tens of millions of
dollars, boats, radars and capabilities," the secretary said.
More military exercises and intelligence sharing also came up during
the meetings, he added, and the discussions also touched on Iran and
Russia. "These guys clearly live in a rough neighborhood," Gates said,
"and I told them at the same time how much the international community
appreciated what they were doing to help everybody in Afghanistan."
The Azerbaijani leaders expressed concern about a lack of progress
in a long-standing territorial dispute with Armenians in the
Nargorno-Karabakh region, Gates said, and he promised to relay the
message to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Obama also
mentioned the dispute in his letter to Aliyev, saying a peaceful
resolution is critical to the South Caucasus region and promising
support for such an outcome would remain a U.S. priority.
"All in all," Gates said, "I would say it was a very positive
visit, and I think it set the stage for further expansion of the
relationship. We will have a bilateral defense consultation next
month, where I think a lot of the things that we discussed will be
put on the table and perhaps fleshed out."
The secretary left Baku this morning, bound for London to meet with
leaders of the new British government.
From: A. Papazian