Azerbaijan, Georgian ink military cooperation plan for 2017

By Azernews

By Amina Nazarli

The Defense Ministries of Azerbaijan and Georgia have inked a cooperation plan for 2017.

The document was undersigned during the meeting between Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov and Defense Minister of Georgia Lev?n Izoria, who is paying a visit to Baku, on December 16.

First, the ministers held their tête-à-tête meeting, which was continued in an expanded format.

Hasanov, recalling that the military cooperation between the two countries is being carried out within the framework of programs and trainings conducted both bilaterally and through NATO, as well as in the format of Azerbaijan-Turkey-Georgia's military structures, said that bilateral and trilateral exercises are planned for next year as well.

Speaking about the high level of strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Georgia, the Azerbaijani minister stressed that this plays an important role not only in the development of our countries, but also in ensuring security in the whole region.

Hasanov expressed confidence that the cooperation plan for 2017 between the military structures of the two countries will strengthen the fruitful cooperation.

The minister further thanked the Georgian people for support to Azerbaijan within the international organizations, the recognition of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh as an integral part of the country, stressing that Azerbaijan also recognizes and supports the territorial integrity of Georgia.

The minister informed the guest that Armenia, as the occupying country creates a major threat to regional security and provides ongoing support for separatism on the state level.

Izoria, expressing satisfaction with his first official visit to Azerbaijan, emphasized that this is a clear example of the high level of cooperation between the two countries.

Noting the important role of friendly relations of heads of states in the development of relations between the two countries, the Georgian minister stressed the importance of such meetings in terms of enhanced cooperation.

Izoria also said that Georgia is ready to take part in joint military exercises that will be held between Azerbaijan and Turkey next year.

The sides further exchanged views on the prospects of cooperation in the military sphere and in the field of military education, the possibility of conducting joint military exercises, the organization of working meetings and other issues of mutual interest.

The Georgian minister was earlier received by President Ilham Aliyev, who praised the successful development of strategic friendly ties between Azerbaijan and Georgia in a variety of fields, including security.

The Georgian minister, in turn, hailed the importance of a peaceful settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, saying the conflict must be resolved on the basis of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Izoria  also expressed his confidence that the strategic partnership relations between the two countries will further develop.

The Azerbaijan-Georgia military cooperation was also key topic of talks between Minister Izoria and Azerbaijan’s Prime Minister Artur Rasizade.

During his Baku visit, the Georgian delegation also visited the Alley of Honor, paid tribute and laid a wreath at the grave of national leader Heydar Aliyev. The delegation also paid tribute and laid flowers at the grave of prominent ophthalmologist, academician Zarifa Aliyeva.

Then the guests visited the Alley of Martyrs to commemorate Azerbaijani heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country's independence and territorial integrity, laid wreaths and flowers to their graves and to the "Eternal Flame" monument.