AzerNews

The New York State Assembly has passed a proclamation welcoming the strategic partnership between the U.S. and Azerbaijan.

Members of the lower chamber of the New York state’s legislature stressed the restoration of the independence of Azerbaijan Republic in October 1991 as a state of the Turkic and Islamic world, as well as the recognition of its independence by the United States in 1992.

The document further cited the recognition of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty by the U.S., the election of the country as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Azerbaijan’s strategic role as a United States ally, as well as its participation in the peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan. It also referred to Baku’s offering its airspace and airports for transportation of 40 percent of non-military materials to Afghanistan, Azerbaijan’s contribution to ensuring the energy security of the U.S. allies in Europe, and also the atmosphere of tolerance towards different religions and ethnic groups in the country.

Since Azerbaijan’s emergence as an independent nation in 1991, the U.S.-Azerbaijan relationship has evolved into a strategic partnership based on mutual interests and common values. At present, Azerbaijan-U.S. relations are developing rapidly.

In Afghanistan, Azerbaijan provides specialized training for Afghan police, border guard officers and civilian and military medical doctors. President Ilham Aliyev has stated Azerbaijan’s intention to expand its partnership with the Afghan national institutions beyond 2014, highlighting the long-standing friendship between the Afghan and the Azerbaijani people.

As a key component to NATO’s Northern Distribution Network, Azerbaijan provides multi-modal transit for roughly 40 percent of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) coalition’s Afghanistan transit.

The Azerbaijani military has also assisted over the years in American-led efforts in Iraq and in the Balkans.

Moreover, Azerbaijan is an active participant of the international anti-terror efforts. Azerbaijan and the United States work together to counter nuclear proliferation and narcotics trafficking, and to promote security in the wider Caspian region and beyond.

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