AZERBAIJAN, BULGARIA: PLAN OF MILITARY COOPERATION FOR 2005 SIGNED
Solemn ceremony of welcoming of the defense minister of Azerbaijan was held in front of the monument to the Unknown Soldier in Sofia, on 25 October. Honorary Guard revered the defense minister of Azerbaijan. After the state anthems of both countries were performed, Mr. Abiyev laid a wreath on the monument.
The same day, defense minister of Bulgaria N. Svinarov met colonel-general Safar Abiyev and his retinue.
At the meeting, discussed were issues of military cooperation in the frame of NATO PfP program and the anti-terror coalition.
Defense minister of Bulgaria N. Svinarov updated his colleague on the military- political situation in the Balkans, on the reforms in the Armed Forces of Bulgaria and the Bulgarian-Azerbaijani military links. “Official visit of Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov to Azerbaijan on 7-8 October current year has given strong impulse to development of the bilateral relations in all fields”, he underlined.
Colonel-general S. Abiyev stated that the bilateral relations of two countries started on the ground of agreement signed by the Presidents of two countries in 1995. Then, he informed on the history of establishment of independent Azerbaijan, its integration to the European structures, military-political situation in the South Caucasus, on the history of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.
Defense minister Safar Abiyev, in particular, dwelt on the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, saying Azerbaijan is deeply concerned with non-recognition of Armenia as a an aggressive state until now. He gave detailed information on training of the Armenian terrorists at the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.
Colonel-general Abiyev said that foreign minister of Bulgaria Solomon Passi has promised that as a OSCE acting chairman he would intensify the process of negotiations, and expressed gratitude to the leadership of the Bulgarian state for support of the fair cause of Azerbaijan. Touching upon the Azerbaijan-Bulgarian military cooperation, defense minister of Azerbaijan noted that army-building experience of Bulgaria is important for Azerbaijan.
Minister Abiyev has invited his Bulgarian colleague to pay an official visit to Azerbaijan, which was accepted.
After the meeting, the sides have signed the plan of military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria for 2005. The plan covers issues of education, military-technical co-op and exchange in the military-industry complex at the expert level.
The defense ministers held a news conference.
On 26 October, the delegation led by defense minister Safar Abiyev met with deputy speaker of People’s Assembly of Bulgaria Yunal Lutfi, deputy foreign minister Ms. Gergana Granjarova and deputy prime minister – chairman of the Republic of Bulgaria Plamen Panayotov.
In the meetings, the sides exchanged views on the existent relations between two countries, contacts between the parliamentary delegations of both countries at the Council of Europe, socio-political situation in the Balkans, Azerbaijan-Bulgarian relations in foreign policy, economy and military spheres.
On 26 October, the delegation led by colonel-general Safar Abiyev held meeting at the National Military University after Vasili Levsky in the Veliko Tirnovo city. Here, defense minister of Azerbaijan Republic familiarized with the structures of University, cadet corps, training curriculum for officers.
The visit ended on 27 October.
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