BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 26. The Mission of the
Republic of Azerbaijan to NATO hosted an official reception to mark
the 108th anniversary of the establishment of the Armed Forces of
the Republic of Azerbaijan.
This was reported by the press service of the mission.
The reception was attended by Ambassador Kevin Hamilton, NATO
Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and
Central Asia and Deputy Assistant Secretary General for
Partnerships, as well as ambassadors and military representatives
of Allied and partner countries to NATO, representatives of the
International Staff of the Alliance, and other high-level
guests.
In his remarks at the reception, the Head of the Mission of the
Republic of Azerbaijan to NATO, Jafar Huseynzada, noted that this
significant day serves as an opportunity to pay tribute to the
dedication and service of the men and women serving in the
Azerbaijani Armed Forces and to once again underscore the
importance of the values of independence, sovereignty, and
statehood. He stated that Azerbaijan’s independence was achieved
through great sacrifice and that its preservation depends on strong
state institutions, national unity, and professional armed forces.
The Head of Mission particularly emphasized the role of National
Leader Heydar Aliyev in laying the foundations of Azerbaijan’s
modern military institutions, noting that the military-building
policy he initiated has been successfully continued under the
leadership of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Ilham Aliyev, resulting in
the restoration of the country's sovereignty and territorial
integrity.
Huseynzade also noted that Azerbaijan’s objectives are not
limited to the restoration of sovereignty but are also directed
toward ensuring sustainable peace in the South Caucasus, and he
described the progress achieved in the Azerbaijan–Armenia peace
process at the Washington Summit as an important milestone. He
emphasized that Azerbaijan’s partnership with NATO has developed
over more than 30 years on the basis of mutual respect and shared
interests, highlighting the country’s significant contributions to
NATO-led operations, particularly in Kosovo and Afghanistan.
The Head of the Mission further underlined Azerbaijan’s
contributions to the energy security of NATO allies and partners,
as well as its role as an important Eurasian connectivity hub
strengthening links between Europe, Central Asia, and other
regions.
In his remarks, Colonel Ramil Hasanov, Military Representative
of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces to NATO’s Military Committee,
provided information on the establishment and development of the
Azerbaijani Armed Forces, as well as Azerbaijan’s military
partnership with NATO.
In his speech, Ambassador Kevin Hamilton, Special Representative
of the NATO Secretary General for the Caucasus and Central Asia and
Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Partnerships, described
Azerbaijan as a reliable and valued NATO partner. He noted that the
long-standing partnership between Azerbaijan and NATO had made a
significant contribution to the professionalization and
modernization of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, which today
demonstrate a high degree of interoperability with NATO standards.
Ambassador Hamilton highly commended Azerbaijan’s contributions to
NATO-led operations and missions, including its important role in
Afghanistan, and expressed particular appreciation for Azerbaijan’s
support during the Allied withdrawal, noting that Azerbaijan was
the last partner nation to leave Afghanistan. He also praised
Azerbaijan’s contribution to the energy security of Allied and
partner nations. Furthermore, Ambassador Hamilton welcomed the
historic progress achieved through the establishment of de facto
peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, describing it as an important
development for regional stability and security.
As part of the official reception, a photo exhibition
highlighting the partnership with the Alliance, the significant
contributions of National Leader Heydar Aliyev to cooperation with
NATO, the visits of President Ilham Aliyev to NATO Headquarters,
and his meetings with Alliance officials was organized, along with
a banquet featuring Azerbaijani national cuisine.
