Azerbaijani Defense Minister meets with NATO Secretary General

On March 18, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, met with the delegation led by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who is on an official visit to Azerbaijan, Report informs, citing the Defense Ministry.

At the official welcoming ceremony hosted by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry, Stoltenberg passed along the guard of honor and signed the "Book of Honor" in accordance with the protocol.

Colonel General Hasanov welcomed the delegation and expressed his satisfaction with seeing them in Azerbaijan.

The Minister thanked NATO for supporting the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan during the 30-year occupation and the current period.

The delegation was given detailed information about the reforms carried out in the Azerbaijani Army in accordance with the instructions of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Ilham Aliyev, as well as mine clearance, restoration and construction works in the liberated territories, and the current situation on the Azerbaijani-Armenian conditional border.

The Minister of Defense spoke about the success achieved in cooperation with NATO and noted the importance of further developing mutual relations.

The Secretary General expressed his gratitude for the hospitality, and highly appreciated the professionalism of the servicemen of the Azerbaijani Army in peacekeeping missions and their activities in other areas within the framework of partnership with NATO. He emphasized that the close cooperation of the Azerbaijani Army with the Turkish Armed Forces will make a significant contribution to Azerbaijan-NATO relations.

At the end, prospects for development in cybersecurity, mine clearance, as well as other areas of bilateral military relations were discussed, and regional security and other issues of common interest were exchanged.