Domestic

Domestic

Chief of General Staff of Estonian Defence Forces: â€œOccupied territories are integral part of Azerbaijanâ€

29 May 2008 16:28 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Mahbuba Gasimbayli-APA. Lieutenant-genera Ants Laaneots, Chief of the General Staff of the Estonian Defense Forces paid two-day official visit to Baku on May 29 at the invitation of Colonel-General Safar Abiyev, Azerbaijani Defense Minister, the Defense Ministryâ€™s Press Service told APA.
The guest laid a wreath at the grave of Heydar Aliyev in the Alley of Honor and commemorative monument of those, who died for the independence of Azerbaijan in the Alley of Martyrs.
The Defense Ministers had one-on-one meeting in Defense Ministry. Abiyev spoke about cooperation between the two countries and sated that Estonian experience as NATO member country is important for Azerbaijan. Abiyev provided information about successes achieved as a result of cooperation with NATO within the framework of Partnership for Peace Program (PfP) and stressed that Azerbaijan gained much progress within the framework of Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP). He stated that fist stage of plan has been implemented successfully and second stage of plan has been started. Abiyev touched upon military-political situation in the region and noted that Armenia occupied 20% territories of Azerbaijan, create obstacles to the peaceful settlement of the conflict and refuse to implement demands of resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council.
â€œUnfortunately, efforts of OSCE MG remained without resultâ€, he said. The Minister added that Azerbaijan would not settle for compromise in restoration of its territorial integrity.
â€œIf Armenia continues to delay peaceful solution to the conflict, Azerbaijan will take serious steps against it and will liberate its lands. Armenia should understand it once and for allâ€, he said.
Chief of the General Staff of the Estonian Defence Forces noted that the two sides were interested in development of relations. He stated that restoration of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan was of principal importance for Estonia and stressed that occupied lands were integral part of Azerbaijan.
The sides exchanged views on prospects of military cooperation and other issues of mutual interests.