Details added (first version posted on 13:00)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 24
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
Military cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan is actively developing, Russian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mikhail Bocharnikov said at a press conference in Baku Dec. 24, Trend reports.
“We have an intergovernmental commission,” he said. “It has recently held its last meeting. The corresponding decision was made there. Azerbaijan has actively participated in international military game competitions over the past few years. As far as I know, some of these competitions may be held in the territory of Azerbaijan at sea next year.”
Bocharnikov noted that the defense ministers of the two countries contact several times a year, adding that this year, the head of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces visited Azerbaijan three times.
He added that some Azerbaijani servicemen are trained in Russian military universities. Ships of the Navy and the Border Service of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation arrive in Azerbaijan's ports, he said.
Earlier, Azerbaijani First Deputy Defense Minister, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Colonel-General Najmeddin Sadikov met with a delegation led by Russian First Deputy Defense Minister, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Army General Valery Gerasimov.
Colonel-General Sadikov said that cooperation between the two countries has been built on relations of friendship, mutual trust and these relations, constantly developing, reached the level of strategic partnership.
Touching upon the military-political situation and security issues in the region, Sadikov stressed that the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the main threat to regional security.
He stressed the importance of achieving a solution to the conflict based on the norms and principles of international law.
In turn, Gerasimov said that the ties of the two countries have historical roots, noting that Azerbaijan is an important strategic partner of Russia.
Gerasimov stressed the importance of expanding bilateral relations, as well as military and military-technical cooperation, organizing and conducting mutual meetings at a high level.