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Azerbaijan, U.S. mull military cooperation

1 July 2013 13:11 (UTC+04:00)
Azerbaijan, U.S. mull military cooperation

By Nazrin Gadimova

Azerbaijani-US military consultations are being held in Baku as part of the cooperation between the two countries, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry said on July 1.

Prospects of military cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United States are being discussed during the consultations.

Azerbaijan and the U.S. have common values and interests. Both nations are at the forefront of driving regional security, economic and energy development, diversity and inclusiveness. Under President Ilham Aliyev's leadership, Azerbaijan has emerged as America's reliable regional partner at the world's uniquely critical crossroads. Azerbaijani servicemen serve shoulder-to-shoulder with American soldiers in Afghanistan.

In Afghanistan, Azerbaijan provides specialized training for Afghan police, border guard officers and civilian and military doctors. President Aliyev stated Azerbaijan's intention to expand its partnership with the Afghan national institutions beyond 2014, highlighting the long-standing friendship between the Afghan and the Azerbaijani people.

As a key component to NATO's Northern Distribution Network, Azerbaijan provides multi-modal transit for about 40 percent of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) coalition's Afghanistan transit.

Working closely with the U.S. Transportation Command and the Air Mobility Command, Azerbaijan has been extending important over-flight clearance, medical evacuation flights as well as landing and refueling operations for U.S. and NATO flights to support ISAF.

The roots of U.S.-Azerbaijan joint operations run deep. The Azerbaijani military has also assisted over the years in American-led efforts in Iraq and in the Balkans.

Azerbaijan is an active contributor to the international anti-terror efforts. Azerbaijan and the U.S. work together to counter nuclear proliferation and drug trafficking, and to promote security in the wider Caspian region and beyond. Azerbaijan's military has also developed a fruitful cooperative State Partnership program with the Oklahoma National Guard.

Azerbaijan enjoys strong relations with Capitol Hill. The Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus has played an important role in fostering the growing partnership between the U.S. and Azerbaijan and advancing US interests in the pivotal Caspian region. In recent years, Azerbaijan has intensified its outreach at the state and local levels.

Today, in addition to the Embassy in Washington, Azerbaijan operates a Consulate General in Los Angeles and an Honorary Consulate in Santa Fe.

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