US-Azeri military drills cancelled
US-Azerbaijani military exercises scheduled for May as part of the
two countries` agreement on military cooperation have been
cancelled, a source from the Azerbaijan Defense Ministry told
AzerNEWS.
The ministry spokesman, Lieut-.Col. Eldar Sabiroghlu, said no information was available about the reason of the measure.
``If details become available, we will report them. The obligations stipulated by the agreement signed by Azerbaijan and the U.S. have always been met, and it`s the first time such an instance has taken place,`` Sabiroghlu said.
As part of the military agreement, the ``Regional response-2009`` exercises were held in Azerbaijan jointly with US servicemen last April. Similar drills were scheduled for this year.
Panah Huseyn, a member of the Azerbaijani parliament`s committee on security and defense issues, views Baku`s turning down the joint exercises as being a result of a recent cool-down in its relations with Washington. According to Huseyn, this could be interpreted as the Aliyev administration`s response to the US stance on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict.
``Certainly, along with the position taken by the U.S. on Upper Garabagh, other issues between the two countries come into play -- I am referring to Azerbaijan`s not having been invited to the nuclear security summit hosted by America.``
Senior Azerbaijani officials have lately issued strongly-worded statements criticizing the US stance on the Garabagh problem, blaming Washington for failing to maintain impartiality as a co-chair of the mediating OSCE Minsk Group and supporting Armenia, which occupies part of Azerbaijani territory.
The ruling Yeni (New) Azerbaijan Party (YAP) links Azerbaijan`s turning down joint military exercises with the United States with recent developments in the region, its deputy chairman, Ali Ahmadov, told journalists.
Ahmadov noted that ensuring stability and cooperation in the volatile region is directly connected with eliminating the consequences of the Garabagh conflict. Therefore, substantial steps should be primarily taken to reach a solution of the conflict. ``Once fair action is taken in this direction, other, additional measures can be undertaken, including the conduct of military exercises, to provide for peace and well-being in the region.`` *
The ministry spokesman, Lieut-.Col. Eldar Sabiroghlu, said no information was available about the reason of the measure.
``If details become available, we will report them. The obligations stipulated by the agreement signed by Azerbaijan and the U.S. have always been met, and it`s the first time such an instance has taken place,`` Sabiroghlu said.
As part of the military agreement, the ``Regional response-2009`` exercises were held in Azerbaijan jointly with US servicemen last April. Similar drills were scheduled for this year.
Panah Huseyn, a member of the Azerbaijani parliament`s committee on security and defense issues, views Baku`s turning down the joint exercises as being a result of a recent cool-down in its relations with Washington. According to Huseyn, this could be interpreted as the Aliyev administration`s response to the US stance on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict.
``Certainly, along with the position taken by the U.S. on Upper Garabagh, other issues between the two countries come into play -- I am referring to Azerbaijan`s not having been invited to the nuclear security summit hosted by America.``
Senior Azerbaijani officials have lately issued strongly-worded statements criticizing the US stance on the Garabagh problem, blaming Washington for failing to maintain impartiality as a co-chair of the mediating OSCE Minsk Group and supporting Armenia, which occupies part of Azerbaijani territory.
The ruling Yeni (New) Azerbaijan Party (YAP) links Azerbaijan`s turning down joint military exercises with the United States with recent developments in the region, its deputy chairman, Ali Ahmadov, told journalists.
Ahmadov noted that ensuring stability and cooperation in the volatile region is directly connected with eliminating the consequences of the Garabagh conflict. Therefore, substantial steps should be primarily taken to reach a solution of the conflict. ``Once fair action is taken in this direction, other, additional measures can be undertaken, including the conduct of military exercises, to provide for peace and well-being in the region.`` *
Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention.
Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis.
By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more.
Subscribe
You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper
Thank you!