BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 2. Azerbaijan is
studying the possibility of deploying its armed forces to future
peacekeeping operations conducted by the United Nations and NATO,
Defense Minister Colonel General Zakir Hasanov said on
Thursday.


Hasanov made the remarks in the foreword to the Report on
Peacekeeping Operations of the Azerbaijani Army, prepared jointly
by the Center for Analysis of International Relations and the
Ministry of Defense.


"Currently, the possibilities of the Azerbaijani Army's
participation in various operations conducted by the UN and NATO
are being studied to assist in maintaining international peace,"
Hasanov said.


According to the minister, more than 3,000 Azerbaijani
servicemen have taken part in peacekeeping operations in different
regions of the world since 1999.


Hasanov said Azerbaijan's peacekeeping forces were established
in 1997 on the instructions of the country's late President Heydar
Aliyev.


"This historic decision is a clear example of our country's
commitment to peace, international security and stability," he
said.







Hasanov said Azerbaijan created its peacekeeping forces despite
facing difficult political and economic conditions at the time,
including the occupation of about 20% of its territory and the
displacement of nearly 1 million refugees and internally displaced
persons.


He said Azerbaijan's first peacekeeping mission was in Kosovo,
followed by deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, where Azerbaijani
troops protected strategic facilities, escorted humanitarian aid
convoys, maintained public security, disarmed armed groups and
evacuated wounded personnel.


Hasanov said Azerbaijani military personnel are currently
serving as military observers in the U.N. mission in South
Sudan.


"The political decisions made regarding participation in
peacekeeping operations, the will shown by our country, and the
contributions made by our peacekeeping forces have further
strengthened Azerbaijan's reputation as a reliable partner and
friend in the world, as well as recognized it as a peace-loving
country," he said.


Hasanov added that, under President and Commander-in-Chief Ilham
Aliyev, Azerbaijan has continued to modernize its peacekeeping
forces by providing them with modern weapons and equipment and
continuously improving personnel training programs.