CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF OF ESTONIAN DEFENCE FORCES: "OCCUPIED TERRITORIES ARE INTEGRAL PART OF AZERBAIJAN"

Azeri Press Agency
May 29 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Mahbuba Gasimbayli-APA. Lieutenant-genera Ants Laaneots, Chief of
the General Staff of the Estonian Defense Forces paid two-day official
visit to Baku on May 29 at the invitation of Colonel-General Safar
Abiyev, Azerbaijani Defense Minister, the Defense Ministry’s Press
Service told APA.

The guest laid a wreath at the grave of Heydar Aliyev in the Alley
of Honor and commemorative monument of those, who died for the
independence of Azerbaijan in the Alley of Martyrs.

The Defense Ministers had one-on-one meeting in Defense
Ministry. Abiyev spoke about cooperation between the two countries and
sated that Estonian experience as NATO member country is important for
Azerbaijan. Abiyev provided information about successes achieved as a
result of cooperation with NATO within the framework of Partnership
for Peace Program (PfP) and stressed that Azerbaijan gained much
progress within the framework of Individual Partnership Action Plan
(IPAP). He stated that fist stage of plan has been implemented
successfully and second stage of plan has been started. Abiyev
touched upon military-political situation in the region and noted
that Armenia occupied 20% territories of Azerbaijan, create obstacles
to the peaceful settlement of the conflict and refuse to implement
demands of resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council.

"Unfortunately, efforts of OSCE MG remained without result",
he said. The Minister added that Azerbaijan would not settle for
compromise in restoration of its territorial integrity.

"If Armenia continues to delay peaceful solution to the conflict,
Azerbaijan will take serious steps against it and will liberate its
lands. Armenia should understand it once and for all", he said.

Chief of the General Staff of the Estonian Defence Forces noted
that the two sides were interested in development of relations. He
stated that restoration of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan was
of principal importance for Estonia and stressed that occupied lands
were integral part of Azerbaijan.

The sides exchanged views on prospects of military cooperation and
other issues of mutual interests.