United States Department of Defense
Aug 13 2004
News Transcript
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Secretary Rumsfeld Press Conference in Baku
SEC. RUMSFELD: Good morning. In my meetings with the
president and the minister of defense, I expressed the gratitude of
the American people, to the people of Azerbaijan for their important
support in the global war on terror. After the attacks on the United
States on September 11, 2001, Azerbaijan was one of the first
countries to offer support, providing valuable access and overflight
rights for coalition aircraft, sending peacekeepers to Afghanistan in
support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
And today Azeri troops are deployed in both Afghanistan and Iraq and
working closely with coalition forces there. In addition, we’re
working very closely together in connection with the NATO Partnership
for Peace effort, which, of course, is a benefit to all 26 NATO
nations, as well as the partners.
In our meetings today with the president and the minister, we
discussed our bilateral defense cooperation. This includes
cooperation with Azerbaijan to help guard against transnational
threats in the Caspian Sea, such as narcotics trafficking, terrorist
transit and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The
American people greatly appreciate the steadfast support of
Azerbaijan in the global war on terror, and we look forward to
continuing to strengthen our military cooperation in the period
ahead.
QUESTION [Via Translator]: Two questions. First of all, Mr.
Secretary of Defense, did you discuss the issue of expansion of Azeri
peacekeepers in Iraq and Afghanistan with President Ilham Aliyev?
And secondly, whether you have been asked for any assistance or
support in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict solution as the only Muslim
country Azerbaijan has its troops on the ground in both Iraq and
Afghanistan?
SEC. RUMSFELD: We did not discuss the possibility of expansion of
Azeri troops in Afghanistan or Iraq. We did discuss the fact that
the United Nations is currently undertaking a responsibility under a
U.N. resolution to assist with Iraqi — the upcoming elections and
that the United Nations is soliciting assistance from countries
around the world to provide security forces to assist the United
Nations with respect to the forthcoming Iraqi elections. With
respect to Nagorno-Karabakh, as you know, the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Minsk Group, is the lead
organization for facilitating negotiations for a peaceful settlement
of that set of issues.
SEC. RUMSFELD: And we did discuss the fact that the United States,
which is involved in that process, along with three or four other
countries, has recently appointed a new ambassador, Mr. Mann, to
assist. And as you know, the United States supports the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan.
Q: Good morning, Mr. Minister, my name is Tom Squitieri, I’m with
USA Today. You heard Secretary Rumsfeld say he looks forward to
further military cooperation between United States and Azerbaijan.
I’m wondering what specific things you would like to see the United
States and NATO provide to your nation’s military to transform it
into a force you think is necessary for your country, and also, have
you considered the secretary’s request about supplying forces to
protect during the Iraqi elections? Thank you.
DEF. MINISTER ABIYEV [Via translator]: As you know, since Azerbaijan
gained independence in 1991, the country has faced lots of threats
and 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s territories are still under Armenian
occupation. And what we want from the U.S. as our ally and partner
is the U.S. to support Azerbaijan in this conflict and demand that
Armenia immediately withdraws its occupational forces from the
territories of Azerbaijan.
Yes, indeed, there’s military cooperation, security cooperation
between our country is going from year to year, and we highly value
this cooperation, and we’re also cooperating with the United States
in the NATO Partnership for Peace Program. And today we’ll also
discussed the issue of security in the Caspian — also another
important issue for Azerbaijan, another unresolved and important
problem for Azerbaijan, but having said that, it’s a political issue
and only when the political solution is found to this issue then the
military will speak.
Q: [Inaudible]
TRANSLATOR: Say what again?
Q: [Inaudible] response to the secretary regarding the security
[Inaudible]?
DEF. MINISTER ABIYEV [Via Translator]: Azerbaijani peacekeepers are
already in Iraq and they have their mandate to fulfill and they will
continue to carry out their tasks.
QUESTION [Via Translator]: Two questions. First, would like you to
– Mr. Secretary of Defense — to evaluate the threats you think posed
to Azerbaijan by Iran’s possibility to develop nuclear weapons and to
whether you anticipate any measure, or perhaps joined together with
Azerbaijan measures, to prevent this threat? And second question is
the Tehran Times newspaper that was reported recently that Azeri
forces under American trainers — American military instructors —
will be deployed on the border between Azerbaijan and Iran. Would
like your comments on this.
SEC. RUMSFELD: I think the – well, the first thing I would say is
that the world is properly concerned about the Iranian nuclear
development activities. The international atomic energy commission
[sic] representing the world community has been active in inspecting
what’s taking place there and has repeatedly expressed concern. The
Iranians have almost consistently responded to the IAEA in an
unsatisfactory way. That presents a problem for the world.
It’s a problem that is really twofold. One is the potential for a
nuclear capability in that country and the implications for
neighboring nations, as you suggested. The second problem it poses is
one of proliferation. As you know, Iran has been on the terrorist
list for many years. And one of the gravest concerns that the world
faces is the nexus between a terrorist state that has weapons of mass
destruction and terrorist networks. So it’s understandable that the
nations, and not just in this region, but throughout the world, are
deeply concerned about what’s taking place in Iran.
QUESTION [Via translator]: Second part of the question, the Tehran
Times and American military instructors on the border Azerbaijan,
Iran?
SEC. RUMSFELD: Not to my knowledge.
UNKNOWN: We’ll take two more questions.
Q: Toby Zakaria with Reuters. Secretary Rumsfeld, also on Iran, did
you discuss with the president and the minister of defense Iranian
President Khatami’s recent visit here? And did you express any
concerns at all about what appears – some might say what appear to be
growing ties between Azerbaijan and Iran?
SEC. RUMSFELD: Yes and no. We did discuss the subject with the
president of the visit of the president of Iran to Azerbaijan. And
no, we did not discuss various things mentioned in your second
question.
QUESTION (Via translator): ATV Channel. Mr. Secretary, you said
that the United States supports territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
In this case, how would you explain the fact that the United States
Congress allocates $5 million per year to the secretary’s regime in
Nagorno-Karabakh, and second question is that Saddam Hussein, who did
not fulfill United Nation’s resolutions, was punished. Do you
anticipate anything against Armenia that…
SEC. RUMSFELD: I’m sorry. I was listening here, instead of to you.
Go ahead.
Q: Yeah. And the second question is Saddam Hussein, who did not
fulfill U.N. resolutions was punished. Do you anticipate taking any
measures against Armenia that refuses to fulfill United Nations for
resolutions in Nagorno-Karabakh?
SEC. RUMSFELD: First, I’m advised that the first question involved
simply some humanitarian assistance and I think it’s important to
look at the totality of all of the various types of cooperative
arrangements we have with Azerbaijan and the total number in terms of
dollars comes to a substantially higher number.
As I mentioned earlier with respect to Nagorno-Karabakh, the Minsk
Group and the negotiating process that’s in place and supported by
the international community is under way and we are hopeful that
there can be a peaceful resolution of that set of issues that will be
respectful of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
SEC. RUMSFELD: Thank you very much.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress