Moldova, Azerbaijan sign military cooperation agreement

Chisinau, 15 March /MOLDPRES/- The promulgation decree and the law ratifying the agreement between the government of Moldova and of Azerbaijan on military cooperation will be published in the Official Journal of Moldova on 16 March.

The document sets the basis for the development of bilateral military contacts, as well as long-term planning and identifying areas of military cooperation between the parties.

Under the agreement, cooperation between the two countries will focus on areas such as: defense policy and defense planning, military-technical work, staff training, social and cultural-sports activities in the army, carrying out joint activities within the NATO program “Partnership for Peace”, consultations on peacekeeping operations and humanitarian aid, and others.

The parties will draw up a bilateral military cooperation plan that will set out various activities, forms of implementation, terms and place, responsible authorities, number of people and other important issues related to the organization and conduct of activities. The authorities empowered to implement the provisions of the agreement are the defense ministries of the parties.

The costs of the agreement’s implementation in respect of Moldova will be covered from and within the annual budget approved by the defense ministry. The agreement was concluded for a five-year period, provided it can be extended.

Under the document, the government will take the necessary steps to comply with the provisions of the agreement, and the Foreign and European Integration Ministry will notify the Azerbaijani side on the ratification of the document.

(Reporter A. Zara, editor M. Jantovan)