AZERI ARMY SWITCHES TO NATO STANDARDS – AZERI DEFENSE MINISTER

Interfax News Agency
March 17 2008
Russia

The ground troops, Air Force and Navy – have been fully transferred to
NATO standards, Azeri Defense Minister Safar Abiyev told deputy chief
of NATO’s International Military Staff George Lebel in Baku on Monday.

Personnel training and all military exercises are also being switched
to NATO standards, the Azeri Defense Ministry reports.

Commenting on the conflict with Armenia over the disputed enclave of
Nagorno-Karabakh, Abiyev noted that the on-going Armenian occupation
of part of Azeri territory might escalate tensions in the region,
the ministry said.

"Azerbaijan will never put up with the occupation of its land. We
will drive the occupants from our land territory, even if we have to
use force," Abiyev was quoted as saying.

Lebel, for his part, said he remained satisfied with the work aimed
at fostering Azerbaijan-NATO cooperation.