Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Aug 13 2004
DEFENSE MINISTRIES OF AZERBAIJAN AND GREAT BRITAIN SIGN MEMO ON
MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING
[August 13, 2004, 16:02:08]
Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan Colonel-General Safar Abiyev met
with Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland in Baku Laurie Bristow and Military Attaché to Georgia and
Azerbaijan Christopher Nann to sign the memorandum on mutual
understanding between the two countries.
He expressed satisfaction with the existing cooperation between
Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom in political, economic and other
spheres. It is very remarkable that the memo on mutual understanding
we are to sign today will lay the foundation for our military
cooperation, he said.
Ambassador Bristow noted for his part that the two countries had been
cooperating in military sphere even before within the framework of
the NATO Partnership for Peace program, and that, both counties’
units are now serving side by side in Iraq. The memo according to him
will promote intensive development of the military cooperation
between Azerbaijan and UK.
I believe, Colonel-General Safar Abiyev responded, that the signing
of the memo will serve strengthening of independence and security of
Azerbaijan. Then, the Minister exchange views with the British
Ambassador on the political and military situation in the Southern
Caucasian region. Touching upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over
Nagorno-Karabakh, he expressed concern over the fact that the
international community had not yet recognized Armenia, which had
occupied 20% of the Azerbaijan’s territories as an aggressor.
The Minister also informed the guests on Azerbaijan’s integration
into the European security structures, intensification of the
country’s activities within the NATO Partnership for Peace program
and implementation jointly European countries of large-scale economic
project.
Ambassador Bristow expressed his government’s belief in fair
resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, and noted that the
United Kingdom is very interested in long-term security in
Azerbaijan.
In conclusion, Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan Colonel-General
Safar Abiyev and Ambassador Laurie Bristow have signed the memorandum
on mutual understanding and Defense links between the Republic of
Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland.