Interfax, Russia
Russia & CIS
February 20, 2008

Azerbaijani minister discusses military cooperation in Iran

BAKU Feb 20

Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev discussed during a visit to
Iran military cooperation, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said in a
statement circulated on Wednesday.

Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammed Najar said that the meeting
should promote the expansion of military cooperation in the framework
of existing agreements.

Abiyev spoke about the military and political tensions in the South
Caucasus and pointed at Armenia’s policy and its occupation of part
of Azerbaijani territory as the main cause.

"Azerbaijan will liberate its territories in one way or the other.

That is definite," Abiyev said at the meeting, stressing the
importance of pooling efforts to put an end to the occupation policy
and restore stability in the region.

During the visit, which took place on Monday and Tuesday, Abiyev also
met with the Iranian information and foreign ministers and mulled
bilateral relations, the legal status of the Caspian Sea, the
situation in the region and the conflict in Nagorno Karabakh.