Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

Baku and Moscow considered topical issues of bilateral military and technical cooperation between the two, as well as problems of regional and international security.

The talks were held during the two-day visit of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to Baku, where he met his Azerbaijani counterpart on August 15.

Program of the military and technical cooperation with Azerbaijan is to be corrected, stated Shoigu at the negotiations with his Azerbaijani colleague Zakir Hasanov.

“I am confident that we will find solution of these issues,” stressed the head of the Russian defense department.

Hasanov, for his part, assessed the visit “of great importance for the development of bilateral military and military-technical cooperation between the two countries.”

The sides discussed the current state of military cooperation, military-technical and military education, and the prospects of cooperation in the fields of military medicine.

The ministers also exchanged views on international and regional security issues, military cooperation in the Caspian Sea, including joint military exercises, mutual visits of delegations comprised of experts, and other issues of mutual interest.

The Russian defense minister said that Russia is an important partner of Azerbaijan and relations between the two countries were based on “strong friendship”.

He emphasized that such meetings are important in terms of expanding bilateral ties, as well as military and military-technical cooperation.

Zakir Hasanov, in turn, noted that the cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia is based on friendly relations and mutual trust, and the bilateral ties have been developing constantly.

The Azerbaijani minister also spoke about the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He noted that over a million Azerbaijanis became IDPs and refugees as a result of the Armenian aggression against the country.

Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov, summing up results of negotiations between the two ministers, noted that Russia-Azerbaijan dialogue on creation of security system in the Caspian Sea will be intensified, the Russian defense ministry reported.

He also noted that training of military servicemen for the Azerbaijani Armed Forces is held successfully.

Antonov informed journalists that Shoigu had invited his counterpart Colonel General Zakir Hasanov to participate in the session of the Council of Defence Ministers of the CIS to be held in Moscow in November, and the International military technical forum ARMY 2016.

Hasanov was also informed about the work of the International Mine Action Centre of the Russian Armed Forces in the territory of Syria, particularly in Palmyra. The Russian party suggested the colleagues from Azerbaijan to participate in this work.

During his brief Baku visit, the Russian minister laid a wreath at the tomb of Heydar Aliyev, the national leader, founder of the modern Azerbaijan.

Russian delegation also visited the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku within the framework of the visit. They also viewed “Pearls of Azerbaijan” exhibition, which reflects the country’s history and culture. The delegation then viewed “Mini Azerbaijan” and classical cars exhibition, and toured Auditorium.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

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