AZERBAIJAN AND USA TO DISCUSS SECURITY PROBLEMS

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
June 25 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku /corr. Trend E.Huseynov, A.Gasimova / Azerbaijan
and the USA intend to the hold next annual security consultations and
discuss all spectrums of issues in this area. The Head of Office for
Public Affairs of the US Embassy in Azerbaijan, Jonathan Henick,
said that the consultations will take place on 9 July. The US
delegation in the talks will be headed by the Assistant Secretary
of State for Military and Political Affairs, John Rood. In addition,
the delegation will include the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State,
Matthew Bryza and representatives from the US Defense Ministry. The
Azerbaijani delegation, which includes representatives of various
ministries and departments, will be headed by the Deputy Foreign
Minister, Araz Azimov.

"As usual, the talks will include all spectrums of security issues
with regards to the bilateral relations, as well as cooperation in
fighting against terrorism, military assistance, support to peace,
NATO-Azerbaijan Individual Partnership Plan and military reforms,"
Henick said.

The Azerbaijan-US security consultations, originally scheduled for
23-25 April, were delayed by the Azerbaijani government. Baku protested
the changes made by the US Department of State on 20 April to its
Human Rights Practices Report issued on 6 March, which indicated the
occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven districts attached to it
by Armenia.

In this respect Baku postponed the visit to Washington for security
consultations, of the government delegation headed by Deputy foreign
minister, Araz Asimov. However, on 25 April the US Department of State
restored the report to its original version and Baku and Washington
confirmed a new date for consultations.