Baku vows continues support to UN peacekeeping operations

/By AzerNews/

By Sara Rajabova

Azerbaijan has voiced continues support to the peacekeeping operations of the United Nations.

Elmar Mammadyarov, Azerbaijan’s foreign minister made the remarks addressing the Peacekeeping Summit in New York, U.S., on September 29, the foreign ministry reported.

Mammadyarov further noted that Azerbaijan supports the UN peacekeeping operations as one of the important mechanisms for maintaining peace and security in the world.

Mammadyarov continued that, however, in order to ensure peace and stability, peacekeeping operations are not enough.

For this purpose, the states need to fulfill their obligations under the international law, in particular those related to the respect for independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty, he added.

Azerbaijan, which has faced military aggression, occupation and ethnic cleansing by neighboring Armenia, is committed to creating peace and security based on the international norms and principles, according to him.

Azerbaijan supports UN peacekeeping operations in the maintenance of international peace and security.

Azerbaijani peacekeepers have participated in peacekeeping missions in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan since 1999. A company and then a battalion of peacekeepers were established as part of the Azerbaijani armed forces.

Azerbaijan's military personnel have been part of the ISAF contingent in the peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan. The mission of the armed forces in Afghanistan began on November 20, 2002. The Azerbaijani peacekeeping contingent in Afghanistan doubled in 2009. Currently, some 90 Azerbaijani servicemen are serving as part of international forces securing safety in Afghanistan.

Azerbaijan is among the eight partner countries that have confirmed their presence in Afghanistan after 2014.