DEFENSE MINISTER VISITS LITHUANIA
[June 18, 2004, 15:12:28]
Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
June 18 2004
Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Safar Abiyev
stayed in Vilnius, Lithuania on June 14 – 15 at the invitation of
the country’s Defense Minister Linas Linkyavichus.
At Vilnius International Airport, the Azerbaijan Minister of Defense
was met by Deputy of National Defense of Lithuania, Dr. Povilas
Malakauskas and other officials.
On the 14th of June, a solemn welcoming ceremony was held at the
Lithuanian National Defense Ministry, where a Guard of Honor was
lined up in honor of Colonel General Safar Abiyev.
During the meeting held one-on-one and in a broaden format, the parties
discussed the current military and political situations in the South
Caucasus region and Baltic States, as well as Azerbaijan-Lithuania
military relations, international cooperation and issues related to
military reforms.
Touching upon Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict Nagorno-Karabakh, Defense
Minister Abiyev expressed concern about unrecognizing so far of
Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan by the global community and
CIS countries. Although, Presidents of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and
Ukraine would state that Karabakh is Azerbaijani land, besides,
the Council of Europe, the European Union and other international
organizations would also express their stands in the matter, no one,
however, officially recognized Armenia as a country-aggressor, he said.
In conclusion, the parties have signed the Agreement on Participation
in Military Training at Lithuanian Military School between the Ministry
of Defense of the Azerbaijan Republic and the Ministry of national
Defense of the Republic of Lithuania.
On the same day, Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan Safar Abiyev was
received by acting President of Lithuania Arturas Paulauskas. The
latter updated the Minister on the successes Lithuania achieved
in the sphere of defense and state building, and touching on the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict said: I believe
Azerbaijan will fairly solve this conflict.
Colonel General Safar Abiyev told of Azerbaijan-Lithuania military
relations, Azerbaijan-NATO links, large-scale economic reforms
implemented in the country, as well as Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict
and the current military situation in the South Caucasian region.
The Minister also met Deputy Chairman of the Lithuanian Seym
/Parliament/Arturas Skarjius and Chairman of the Seym’s National
Security and Defense Committee Evaldas Ignatavichus to exchange views
on integration into European structures, existing socio-political
situation in the regions, economic projects, NATO-Azerbaijan and
NATO-Lithuania relations, join activity in the anti-terror coalition
and other issues.
Sharing his impressions of the Lithuania meetings and touching upon
the occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armeniam Colonel General Safar
Abiyev said in particular: violating the international legal norms,
the state of Armenia ignores the United Nations Security Council’s
four resolutions on the problem. Armenia is an aggressor, Azerbaijan’s
patience is not unlimited, and the country is taking very decisive
stance on liberation of its lands from Armenian occupation.
On the 15th of June, the delegation of Azerbaijan lead by the Defense
Minister visited Lithuanian Yonas Zhematis Military Academy and
Adolfas Ramanauskas Military Training Center.
On the same day, the delegation returned to motherland.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress