AZERBAIJAN, U.S. DISCUSS DEFENSE COOPERATION

Baku, June 7 (AzerTAc). Visiting Baku, the United States Defense Secretary Robert Gates has today met his Azerbaijani counterpart Safar Abiyev to discuss bilateral cooperation.
Abiyev said his country attaches “great” significance to military cooperation with the United States. He said foundations of the Azerbaijan-Armenia military cooperation were laid by national leader Heydar Aliyev in 1997.
The minister said President Ilham Aliyev discussed various directions of the US-Azerbaijan cooperation with US Defense Secretary.
Abiyev pointed out that the fact the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was not yet resolved, the situation remained complicated and strained in the South Caucasus.
The minister praised the role of the United States as an OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, adding Azerbaijan expects more “active” efforts from the US.
He also touched upon Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, saying it had had a negative impact on US-Azerbaijan ties.
The US Defense Secretary said a letter from President Barack Obama to his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev, scheduled visit of Secretary of State Hilary Clinton to Baku and his current visit show that the United States and Azerbaijan are strategic partners.
Gates vowed he would tell President Obama how much importance Azerbaijan attaches to the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The US Defense Secretary said he would spare no efforts to reach elimination of Section 907.
The Azerbaijani minister stated the visit by the Pentagon chief would contribute to further strengthening the partnership between the two nations.
Azerbaijan`s ambassador to Washington Yashar Aliyev was present at the meeting.