NATO
Sept 7 2012
Opening remarks by NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, at
the joint press point with the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev,
at the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy, Baku, Azerbaijan
It is a great pleasure to make my first visit to Baku. This shows that
NATO is and will remain committed to the South Caucasus region. And
Azerbaijan is an important partner for NATO.
Our relations are developing steadily and positively. We appreciate
the steadfast support provided by your troops in Afghanistan. They are
doing an excellent job and you can be very proud of them.
We also appreciate the political support to NATO operations, through
over flight and transit lines. And we are grateful for the generous
financial contribution to the training of Afghan security forces.
Together, we have agreed to continue to support the Afghans after the
end of our ISAF operation in 2014. I am very pleased to hear from
President Aliyev that Azerbaijan will be part of that support, which
is vital for the stability of Afghanistan and of the whole region.
NATO is assisting Azerbaijan with defence and security sector reform
and we encourage you to keep up the momentum in this key area. We are
also helping to remove huge quantities of landmines and free up
hundreds of hectares of land. This is one of the biggest such projects
in the world - and it is of real benefit to people.
So we have a strong framework for dialogue and cooperation. And we are
determined to build on our success. To deepen the practical experience
that our military forces have gained by working together in
Afghanistan over the years. And to work together in dealing with the
security challenges of the 21st century, which all face in a
globalised world.
So Azerbaijan is a valuable partner for NATO. And NATO is a valuable
partner for Azerbaijan. We have an opportunity to build a solid,
long-term partnership. And it's an opportunity I am convinced we must
seize.
http://www.nato.int/cps/en/SID-22321B2A-2A607FC3/natolive/opinions_89801.htm
Sept 7 2012
Opening remarks by NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, at
the joint press point with the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev,
at the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy, Baku, Azerbaijan
It is a great pleasure to make my first visit to Baku. This shows that
NATO is and will remain committed to the South Caucasus region. And
Azerbaijan is an important partner for NATO.
Our relations are developing steadily and positively. We appreciate
the steadfast support provided by your troops in Afghanistan. They are
doing an excellent job and you can be very proud of them.
We also appreciate the political support to NATO operations, through
over flight and transit lines. And we are grateful for the generous
financial contribution to the training of Afghan security forces.
Together, we have agreed to continue to support the Afghans after the
end of our ISAF operation in 2014. I am very pleased to hear from
President Aliyev that Azerbaijan will be part of that support, which
is vital for the stability of Afghanistan and of the whole region.
NATO is assisting Azerbaijan with defence and security sector reform
and we encourage you to keep up the momentum in this key area. We are
also helping to remove huge quantities of landmines and free up
hundreds of hectares of land. This is one of the biggest such projects
in the world - and it is of real benefit to people.
So we have a strong framework for dialogue and cooperation. And we are
determined to build on our success. To deepen the practical experience
that our military forces have gained by working together in
Afghanistan over the years. And to work together in dealing with the
security challenges of the 21st century, which all face in a
globalised world.
So Azerbaijan is a valuable partner for NATO. And NATO is a valuable
partner for Azerbaijan. We have an opportunity to build a solid,
long-term partnership. And it's an opportunity I am convinced we must
seize.
http://www.nato.int/cps/en/SID-22321B2A-2A607FC3/natolive/opinions_89801.htm