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BAKU: Azeri Minister, US Counterpart Discuss Defence Ties

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  • BAKU: Azeri Minister, US Counterpart Discuss Defence Ties

    AZERI MINISTER, US COUNTERPART DISCUSS DEFENCE TIES

    APA, Azerbaijan
    Aug 6 2013

    Baku, 6 August: Azerbaijani Defence Minister Col-Gen Safar Abiyev is
    visiting Washington at the invitation of US Defense Secretary Chuck
    Hagel. He first visited the Arlington national cemetery and laid wreath
    at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; then he went to the Pentagon.

    The Defence Ministry's press service told APA that at the entrance
    to the Pentagon, Abiyev was met solemnly by the guard of honour at
    the entrance of the Pentagon and Chuck Hagel.

    Abiyev touched on various aspects of strategic partnership between
    Azerbaijan and the USA and said that practical steps by Azerbaijan
    played an especial role in building and developing these ties. The
    minister said that positive results have been obtained as the USA
    and Azerbaijan carry on with a number of programmes for cooperation
    in the defence area. He said that Azerbaijan will continue to make a
    contribution to operations in Afghanistan after 2014 and that NATO
    has already supported this initiative. Abiyev said that combining
    efforts to fight international terrorism and joint participation
    in the international coalition's operations provided a solid and
    important impetus to strengthening cooperation.

    Abiyev pointed out Azerbaijan's efforts in the context of contributing
    to the Euro-Atlantic security and said that in this area energy,
    transport, communications and other regional projects too turned into
    a crucial factor for developing strategic cooperation.

    The defence minister talked about the military and political situation
    in the South Caucasus region and said that the Azerbaijani territories
    have been under occupation for 20 years: "The USA and international
    organizations are not making distinctions between the aggressor and the
    victim of aggression in the Armenian-Azerbaijani, Nagornyy Karabakh
    conflict on the basis of international legal norms. As a result of
    Armenia's policy of aggression, more than 1m people in Azerbaijan
    became refugees and displaced persons. It is very regrettable that
    to date the international organizations and major powers have not
    declared Armenia the aggressor state."

    Abiyev emphasized that Section 907 still remains in force and creates
    problems in this regard, and that this is incongruent with the US
    foreign policy. The minister told his American counterpart that if
    the Nagornyy Karabakh is not resolved and Azerbaijani territories
    are not liberated, then the generally tense military and political
    situation in the region will persist.

    US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said he agreed with Abiyev and that
    as a friend of Azerbaijan he will continue to make efforts to develop
    and strengthen strategic cooperation.

    Later the two men had a wide-ranging discussion of directions for
    military and technical cooperation.

    Chuck Hagel asked Abiyev to pass his greetings to the Azerbaijani
    president.

    At the end of the meeting, Abiyev gave to Chuck Hagel an invitation
    letter for an official visit to Azerbaijan. Chuck Hagel said he gladly
    accepted the offer.

    On the same day, Abiyev met US Navy Secretary Ray Mabus. The two
    men discussed security on the Caspian Sea, the current situation and
    prospects for developing cooperation between the two countries' navies.

    Elin Suleymanov, Azerbaijan's ambassador to the USA, took part in
    both meetings.

    [Translated from Azeri]

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