This idea has sounded at the meeting of the Minister of Defense taken place on October 28, general - colonel Safar Abiyev with members of the European Union Troika.

The structure of delegation includes the special representative of the Great Britain on Southern Caucasus Brian Foll, the head of East Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Great Britain Simon Smith, the special representative of the European Union on Southern Caucasus Heike Talvitie and others.

As is stated, Safar Abiyev informed visitors on the present military-political situation in region of Southern Caucasus, having stopped on the question of settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, has noted, that would be good, if the management of Armenia spoke not about the abstract peace, but about ways of clearing of the occupied Azerbaijani lands and performance of requirements of 4 Resolutions adopted by Security Council of the United Nations in connection with the conflict. He has told: “Armenia and today by means of the patrons intensively continues to arm. We are concerned also that the international public does not give due attention to settlement of the conflict of. Rights more than one million of Azerbaijan citizens expelled from the native lands and became refugees, are trampled and sacrificed to interests of a group the Armenian separatists living in Nagorno Karabakh. Refugees and IDPs live in intolerable conditions. Azerbaijan people cannot wait any more. It is compelled to search itself for ways of settlement of the conflict”.

Having noted that the European Union counts undesirable participation of armed forces in settlement of the said conflict, Bryan Foll has told: “We know that Azerbaijan people long years waits for settlement of the conflict. We trust in prospect of the peace settlement of the given conflict. Such decision will benefit to both states. The European Union will make for this purpose utmost”.

The sides have discussed prospects of development of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Union.

General - colonel S. Abiyev has emphasized that Azerbaijan since first years of independence has chosen a strategy. This strategy consists in integration into the European structures of safety, intensive development of cooperation with Europe and the USA.

Having touched also the question of cooperation with the NATO, S. Abiyev ascertained, that in May 2004 the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has presented to the Secretary General of the NATO the Plan of Activity of Individual Partnership (PAIP), and in May of this year began realization of positions of the said plan. We in due time execute positions of program PAIP.

B. Foll has emphasized that the level of development of links between the European Union and Azerbaijan is very high. The European Union will use the best efforts for rendering assistance to development of relations in all spheres favorable to the Azerbaijan state.

At the meeting also was present the ambassador of the Great Britain to Azerbaijan Lawrence Bristow.