Commander of the USA European Command confirmed the news of placing the USA military bases in Azerbaijan

Commander of the USA European Command, General James Jones said during the hearings in the Congress that a lot has been done in realizing the initiative "Protection of the Caspian Sea region".

According to the General, the "Protection of the Caspian Sea region" will ensure continuous protection of air, sea and land boundaries of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. The Pentagon has been carrying out the work on this conception since 2003. It is considered in the conception to form specially appointed groupings and police forces in the Caspian Sea countries including to the USA impact circle. Terrorists' attacks to oil objects and pipelines will be neutralized by these forces.

"Protection of the Caspian Sea" will play the role of ahead post of The USA Europe Command, the Caspian Sea region is included to the impact circle of this command the main headquarters of which is located in Stuttgart. "World Street Journal" wrote that the headquarters of "Protection of the Caspian Sea region" which will be supplied with new, the most up-to date radars will be located in Baku. The main aim of the forces of the headquarters is to protect the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline from the terrorists' attack.

Besides it, the "Protection of the Caspian Sea region" forces can be directed to the solution of such matters as illegal circulation of drugs and gun smuggling. The USA government intends to spend $100 million to the forming "Protection of Caspian Sea region" brigades during 10-year period. /APA/