Azernews.Az

Azerbaijan's international relations in the military field have significantly expanded in recent years, the Defense Ministry spokesman said.
"In particular, the level of cooperation with partner states within NATO as well as the armed forces of other CIS and Near East countries has considerably increased," Eldar Sabiroglu told a news conference on the outcomes of 2007.
Sabiroglu emphasized that Azerbaijan was cooperating with some 50 countries in the military field. "This is great success for a country that gained independence several years ago [in 1991]."
Sabiroglu noted that cooperation agreements on defense have been signed with 21 countries around the world, including such powerhouses as the United States, Britain, Germany and Turkey. Moreover, work is underway on documents constituting legal framework for such collaboration with Belgium, Moldova, China and Bahrain. "Based on those papers, we will sign protocols on bilateral cooperation with each of these states in 2008."
Sabiroglu stressed that Defense Minister Safar Abiyev paid official visits to six countries and the defense chiefs of six states visited Baku in 2007. Agreements on military cooperation were signed during the visits.