Azernews.Az

Azerbaijani servicemen who have completed their mission in Iraq were conferred with US awards on Thursday.
Five peacekeepers received medals of achievement of the Marine Corps and 16 - orders of honor at a Defense Ministry military unit.
The ministry official Vagif Mammadov, addressing the ceremony, said Azerbaijani armed forces officers' serving side by side with US military men further promoted friendship between the two countries.
US ambassador in Baku Anne Derse said the United States was grateful to Azerbaijani peacekeepers for their service in Iraq and contribution to the global war on terror.
"I appreciate the Azerbaijani peacekeepers' efforts. The Marine Corps commanders told me that they have contributed a great deal to defending the lives of the marines," the envoy said.
US assistant military attache in Azerbaijan Tancy Glassner emphasized that Azerbaijani peacekeepers have supported American marines at the hardest moments during the struggle for Iraq's freedom.
"I've been to Iraq a few times myself. I recall those rainy days and muddy weather. But despite all challenges, Azerbaijani peacekeepers stayed focused and stood by their US comrades-in-arms."
Azerbaijan has been involved in anti-terror operations since 2003. 150 peacekeepers are guarding a water reservoir and a hydro-power plant in the Iraqi town of Hadita. The make-up of the troops changes twice a year on a rotation basis. A 92-people-strong detachment has lately headed to Iraq to replace the returning servicemen.
The commander of the Azerbaijani peacekeeping battalion, Lieut.-Col. Elkhan Shalbuzov spoke of the extensive experience that the country's troops have gained in such operations.
"Azerbaijani military men have been involved in peace-making operations since 1999. Some 1,000 peacekeepers have returned home after serving in Iraq alone," he said.
Shalbuzov also said 34 Azerbaijani servicemen are serving in the Dragas region of Kosovo where they are responsible for patrolling 18 villages.
Another group of Azerbaijani peacekeepers has been serving as part of the Turkish battalion in Afghanistan since 2002. They are patrolling areas in the city of Kabul.