Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister: "We will drive the aggressors out of our lands, even by force"

Azeri Press Agency
March 17 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Gulshan Hajiyeva – APA. Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister,
Colonel-General Safar Abiyev has today received George Lebel,
cooperation and regional security chief of NATO International Military
Staff, the Ministry’s Press Service told APA.

Touching upon Azerbaijan’s cooperation plans with NATO, the Defense
Minister said Azerbaijan had participated in the events within the
framework of several cooperation programs with NATO. The minister
noted that all kinds of Azerbaijani Armed Forces – Land Troops,
Military Air Forces and Navy had been confirmed to NATO standards.

Military education of officers, as well as all military trainings
is in line with these standards. Touching upon Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, Safar Abiyev said no concrete progress had been achieved
in the peaceful settlement of the conflict because of Armenia’s
non-constructive position.

"This situation may aggravate the tension. Azerbaijan cannot agree
to the occupation of its territories. We will drive the aggressors
out of our lands, even by force," he said.

Stressing the further development of NATO-Azerbaijan relations, NATO
official expressed his satisfaction with Azerbaijan’s achievements.