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Gates Talks Strengthen Azerbaijan Partnership

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  • Gates Talks Strengthen Azerbaijan Partnership

    GATES TALKS STRENGTHEN AZERBAIJAN PARTNERSHIP
    By John D. Banusiewicz

    Department of Defense
    http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=59511
    June 7 2010
    USA

    American Forces Press Service

    ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT, June 7, 2010 - Calling Azerbaijan an
    important partner in the coalition's efforts in Afghanistan, Defense
    Secretary Robert M. Gates said he discussed a stronger military
    relationship between Azerbaijan and the United States in meetings
    with two of the country's leaders yesterday and today.

    After arriving in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku yesterday, Gates
    visited with President Ilham Aliyev, and met today with Defense
    Minister Col. Gen. Safar Abiyev.

    "They play an important part in Afghanistan, not only in terms of the
    troops they have there - and also a civilian presence - but [through]
    ground transportation and allowing over flights," Gates said, "so
    [the visit] was partly to express appreciation for that."

    Azerbaijani servicemembers are part of NATO's International Security
    Assistance Force in Afghanistan, and the country is a key part of the
    global air and ground network that resupplies ISAF and Afghan forces
    and brings in supplies for construction projects.

    The secretary delivered a letter to Aliyev from President Barack Obama
    that expresses gratitude for Azerbaijan's contributions in Afghanistan,
    saying such assistance has "strengthened your country's stature as a
    steadfast security partner." The letter also conveys Obama's desire
    for a broader and deeper future relationship between the two countries.

    During his talks in Baku, Gates said, he and the Azerbaijani leaders
    discussed strengthening the bilateral military relationship and the
    possibility of further U.S. help with maritime security in the Caspian
    Sea. "We already help them there with several tens of millions of
    dollars, boats, radars and capabilities," the secretary said.

    More military exercises and intelligence sharing also came up during
    the meetings, he added, and the discussions also touched on Iran and
    Russia. "These guys clearly live in a rough neighborhood," Gates said,
    "and I told them at the same time how much the international community
    appreciated what they were doing to help everybody in Afghanistan."

    The Azerbaijani leaders expressed concern about a lack of progress
    in a long-standing territorial dispute with Armenians in the
    Nargorno-Karabakh region, Gates said, and he promised to relay the
    message to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Obama also
    mentioned the dispute in his letter to Aliyev, saying a peaceful
    resolution is critical to the South Caucasus region and promising
    support for such an outcome would remain a U.S. priority.

    "All in all," Gates said, "I would say it was a very positive
    visit, and I think it set the stage for further expansion of the
    relationship. We will have a bilateral defense consultation next
    month, where I think a lot of the things that we discussed will be
    put on the table and perhaps fleshed out."

    The secretary left Baku this morning, bound for London to meet with
    leaders of the new British government.




    From: A. Papazian
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