BAKU: Latvia supports territorial intergrity of Azerbaijan

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Aug 17 2005

LATVIA SUPPORTS TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF AZERBAIJAN AND APPRECIATES
ITS PARTICIPATION IN PEACE-BUILDING MISSION
[August 17, 2005, 22:26:20]

As is known, defense minister of the Azerbaijan Republic
colonel-general Safar Abiyev has paid an official visit to Riga on
the invitation of the defense minister of the Republic of Latvia
Eynars Repshe on 15-16 August.

On 15 August, Mr. Safar Abiyev met with the Commander of National
Armed Forces of Latvia, vice-admiral Gaydis Andreys Zeybots. After
the briefing on the Armed Forces of Latvia for the defense minister
of Azerbaijan, Mr. Safar Abiyev informed on the Armenia-Azerbaijan,
Nagorno Karabakh conflict, on the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan and the
cooperation links with NATO.

The same day, Mr. Abiyev met with defense minister of Latvia
Eynars Repshe. Mr. Safar Abiyev highlighted on the NATO-Azerbaijan
cooperation, on Azerbaijan’s participation in the anti-terror
coalition, and on the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
“We believe that sooner or later all the states will recognize Armenia
as an aggressor and demand to withdraw its armed forces from the
occupied territories of Azerbaijan”, Mr. Abiyev stressed.

Mr. Eynars Repshe underlined that Latvia supports territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan and highly assesses its participation in the
peace-building mission.

After the meeting, the ministers have signed an agreement on
cooperation in the military field between the defense ministries of
the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Latvia.

The Agreement includes exchange of experience related to
participation in the NATO’s PfP Program, the defense policy and
strategy, commandment and management, international peace support
and humanitarian operations, cooperation in military construction
and military reforms, military education and others.

The same day, Speaker of the Latvian Seym Ms. Ingrida Udre received
the Azerbaijan delegation. Then, foreign minister of Latvia Artis
Pabriks met with the defense minister of Azerbaijan and discussed
issues of cooperation.

Defense minister of Azerbaijan also had a series of meetings with
representatives of relevant departments of Latvia.

On 16 August, colonel-general Safar Abiyev familiarized with the
activity of the Research-Rescue Service Center of the Navy of Latvia.