Azerbaijan, Baku, 24 January /corr. Trend E.Huseynov / The excellent military service of the National Army of Azerbaijan as part of the peacekeepers force in Iraq brings great honor to Azerbaijan, said the US Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Anne E. Derse, said during an event in honour of the return of 91 Azerbaijani peacekeepers from Iraq to Azerbaijan.
According to the Ambassador, due to the courage of the Armed Forces, the co-operation between Azerbaijan and USA is expanding. The US Administration highly assesses the efforts of the Azerbaijani military forces in Iraq, Derse said.
"I served in Iraq for a year. Therefore, I know what difficulties you have faced. I know from the commanders of the marine infantrymen of the USA that the Azerbaijani military played an important role in defending their lives," the Ambassador added.
A company and later a battalion of peacekeepers were established in the National Army of Azerbaijan in 1997. Some 150 peacekeepers of Azerbaijan National Army serve as part of the multi-national forces in Iraq, 34 in Kosovo, 45 as part of International Forces for Assistance to Security in Afghanistan.