Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Azerbaijan and Lithuania have discussed the bilateral relations between the two countries, as President Ilham Aliyev received a delegation led by Lithuania's National Defense Minister Juozas Olekas on October 8.

The sides expressed their satisfaction with the development of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Lithuania in political, economic and other areas, and noted the role of cooperation between the two countries` defense ministries in the expansion of these ties.

They also stressed the importance of high-level meetings in terms of the strengthening of bilateral relations and noted that Olekas's visit would contribute to the development of these relations even further.

On the same day, Defense Minister, Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov met the delegation headed by Olekas.

The ministers discussed military cooperation between the two states.

They noted that military cooperation between states is carried out both at the bilateral level and within the various programs of NATO, and it is constantly evolving.

Touching upon the military-political situation in the region, Hasanov noted that Armenia is the main threat to stability in the region, as it occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions.

Hasanov stressed the importance of resolving the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the framework of rules and principles of international law and relevant UN Security Council resolution.

Olekas, for his part, said the intergovernmental connections based on friendly relations and noted the need for more intensive cooperation.

During his Baku visit, the Lithuanian minister was also received by Prime Minister Artur Rasizade.

They hailed Azerbaijan-Lithuania relations, stressing the importance of cooperation in the military field.

They also praised the cooperation in organizing joint trainings and qualification improvement courses for servicemen under a bilateral agreement between the two countries` defense ministries.

Lithuania recognized independence of Azerbaijan on December 21, 1991. Diplomatic relations between two countries were established in November, 1992. The Lithuanian embassy was opened in Azerbaijan on April 3, 2007. The Azerbaijani embassy was opened in Lithuania in September 2007.