DEFENSE MINISTER MEETS WITH U.S. DEPUTY ASSISTANT DEFENSE SECRETARY
Minister said that Azerbaijan-US relations are developing in all spheres. The military cooperation is based on both bilateral and NATO Partnership for Peace programs. He pointed out that Azerbaijan currently continues cooperation with the US in accordance with the NATO Individual Partnership Actions Plan.
On the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, Minister said that the unsolved conflict impedes development of the US-Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan-NATO intensive military cooperation. He called on the US, one of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, to step up their activity to settle the conflict as it could help to find a solution to the problem. S. Abiyev emphasized the fact that section 907 was not repealed yet limits US-Azerbaijan cooperation.
MacDugal said that US-Azerbaijan relationship constantly develops. He agreed to what S. Abiyev said about the section 907. Therefore, the cooperation programs, according to him, are normally scheduled for one-year term. President Bush said he would repeal of section 907 during his tenure. Therefore, US-Azerbaijan relations must be strengthened. MacDugal said “we are doing everything possible to repeal section 907”. Peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict answers both sides’ interests as well since resolution of the conflict will help achieve this aim.
He expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan for participating in the peacekeeping operations and in the fight against terrorism alongside the US.
The issues discussed at the meeting also included prospects for US-Azerbaijan military cooperation and regional security issues.
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