AZERI DEFENSE MINISTER RECEIVES NATO COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF
Author: E.Javadova

TREND, Azerbaijan
May 19 2006

Azerbaijani Defense Minister received on 19 May the commander-in-chief
of NATO’s Air Forces in Europe, General William Tom Hobbins, the
Ministry told Trend.

During the meeting Abiyev noted that Azerbaijan closely cooperates
with NATO and the United States. The cooperation with NATO
successfully continues in line with the Action Plan on Individual
Partnership. Concerning the existing military-political situation in
the South Caucasus region the minister said that the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict is the major reason impeding the rehabilitation of peace and
stability in the region. “Armenia with its destructive policy avoids
from peaceable talks and keeps under occupation 20% of Azerbaijani
territory,” he underlined.

In his turn, General Hobbins noted the successes in the cooperation
between NATO and Azerbaijan. The successful implementation of the
Action Plan of the Individual Partnership will bring close the country
with the bloc. He also noted that the visit targets familiarity with
the air forces of Azerbaijan. “I believe that the US-Azerbaijan
cooperation in the sphere of air forces is getting expanded,”
he underlined.

The gathering focused on exchange of opinion on future perspectives
of the US-Azerbaijan military cooperation between, integration in
to the European organizations, Azerbaijan’s activities under the
anti-terror coalition and different issues of mutual concern.