16:45 - 21.02.2018

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February 21, Fineko/abc.az. Azerbaijani Defence Minister Col-Gen Zakir Hasanov has met today with the delegation led by the Minister of Defense & Support of the Iranian Armed Forces Brigadier General Amir Hatami.

The Ministry of Defence of Azerbaijan informs that two countries’ defence ministers held a tete-a-tete meeting, which was continued in an expanded format.

Having greeted the guests, Col-Gen Hasanov congratulated Brigadier General Hatami on his appointment to the post of Defence Minister and assessed his first visit as defense minister to Azerbaijan as a high indicator of friendly relations between the two countries,” the Ministry reports.

Col-Gen Hasanov brought to the attention of his Iranian counterpart that the unsettled nature of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict still poses a serious threat to regional stability. He also expressed gratitude to the Iranian side for its efforts in settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Karabakh conflict within the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan.

“Brigadier General Hatami stated that there is a great potential for cooperation in the military sphere. He also added that his country recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and supports its just position in resolving the conflict,” the Ministry said.

Hatami stressed that Iran, as a Muslim country, is interested in increasing the military power of Azerbaijan and is ready to provide any assistance in this sphere.

During the meeting, the sides held an extensive exchange of views on the prospects for the development of cooperation in the military, military-technical, military-medical and military-educational spheres, organization of mutual visits of expert groups, and other issues of common interest.

At the end of the meeting, the ministers of defense have made statements to the press.