President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received the delegation led by Headquarters Deputy Chief of the US European Command Charles Wald, 21 November.

Greeting the guests, President Ilham Aliyev said:

“Dear Mr. General,

Dear guests, I cordially welcome all of you. You are welcome to Azerbaijan.

Our relations with the United States are developing quickly. We cooperate in all fields. I am sure that this cooperation will continue in the years ahead. In the economic field and energy sector, these relations are of great importance for the region and world. With the support of the United States, there is being realized large projects in the region that are important for the region and world.

At the same time, we successfully cooperate in the military sphere. Azerbaijan and US participate at the same coalition to ensure peace and security. In particular, in combat against terrorism, our countries actively cooperate and this will be further going ahead. Azerbaijan is a country suffering from terrorism. Over 30 terror acts were committed by the Armenian terrorist organizations in our Republic as a result of which were killed over 2000 Azerbaijani citizens.

The Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno Karabakh conflict is a great jeopardy for the region. We are hopeful that the United States, as a OSCE MG co-chair will take active part in resolution to the problem and it will find its settlement in the frame of international legal norms.

I once again welcome you. I am convinced that your meetings will strengthen the existing friendly and kind relations and cooperation and develop them.”

Expressing his gratitude to the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, General Charles Wald said:

“Mr. President, thank you very much. It is a great honor to meet you. I congratulate You with the victory at the recently held Presidential elections. On behalf of the Headquarters Chief of the US European Command General Johnson and on my behalf, we wish quick recovery of Your father.

I extend to You special gratitude of the United States military command. Thank you very much for cooperation by your militaries in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq during the operations. We are hopeful that this cooperation will continue in the future. Of course, we completely agree with you that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict will be solved peacefully and in the frame of international legal norms.

We wish the cooperation between our militaries acquired higher level. We had talks with your minister in this regard. These talks mainly are on security in the region and the Caspian.

Mr. President, we shall soon render assistance to Azerbaijan in the military sphere. I think, from the regional security standpoint, this assistance will be significant. Your also know that the US has made such an initiative in Kazakhstan. The same we are going to do in Azerbaijan. We mean security of the Caspian and the entire region. I think that both the government and military sphere is keen in this. This will be a model. According to that model, we shall be able to control over the surface, marine and air space in the Caspian. Necessary information will be transmitted to the higher command. I think that this is an important model for security of both region and world. We are going to start in January.

You, probably, are aware of another program. We have implemented such a program in Georgia. This was named “Georgia: training and equipment”. According to that program, we have worked in Georgia. Then, their defense minister appealed to our defense minister Ramsfeld. This cooperation will expand. Generally, this program is meant for the countries with increasing significance. In this context, the role of Azerbaijan is very important. We consider that we shall cooperate in this field either.

I would like to express my gratitude for receiving us. I once again congratulate You with the victory at the Presidential elections and extend my best wishes to your country. I would like to express my hope that a new era begins in your country under Your leadership. Our relations will also be at high level in this period”.

Ilham Aliyev: “Thank you for sincere words. You rightly noted that Azerbaijan cooperates with the United States in the military sphere. Azerbaijan is a reliable partner. Our cooperation goes ahead in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq and you know that this is the policy of our President Heydar Aliyev. In Azerbaijan, this policy will be continued.

As you know, stability and security should be completely restored in the region. Therefore, Azerbaijan is to strengthen its defense potential. Of course, from this view of point, bilateral cooperation and the rendered-to-be assistance is very important.

Defense minister of Azerbaijan colonel general Safar Abiyev, the US ambassador to Azerbaijan Reno Harnish attended the meeting.