By empty (11/28/2006 issue of the CACI Analyst)
The USA will participate in modernization of one of military airdromes in Azerbaijan; at present, military organizations of both countries are discussing the issue; communication officer of the US embassy to Azerbaijan Jonathan Henick is quoted by APA Agency as stating. He stressed that the USA continued to use Heydar Aliyev airport, as well as Azerbaijani air space, and the cooperation was very important for the USA. According to him, Azerbaijan assumed obligation at IPAP to modernize its second airdrome.
The USA will participate in modernization of one of military airdromes in Azerbaijan; at present, military organizations of both countries are discussing the issue; communication officer of the US embassy to Azerbaijan Jonathan Henick is quoted by APA Agency as stating. He stressed that the USA continued to use Heydar Aliyev airport, as well as Azerbaijani air space, and the cooperation was very important for the USA. According to him, Azerbaijan assumed obligation at IPAP to modernize its second airdrome. “At present, we conduct discussions with Azerbaijan in connection with search for forms of modernization, rendering assistance; I want especially to stress that the initiative does not belong to the USA which may render assistance if necessary,” he pointed out. As for increasing number of US radars installed some time ago in Azerbaijan, Henick informed that they were handed over to Azerbaijani soldiers. According to him, Azerbaijan decides itself how to use these radars and in which form. Henick mentioned that these radars are aimed at monitoring the Caspian Sea basin while it is not directed against neighboring countries. He informed that he does not have any information on new radars adding that if some problems appear, these issues will be discussed in future. Also, he mentioned role of the USA in guaranteeing security of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline. According to the US embassy’s official representative, countries through whose territory the oil pipeline passes account for the oil pipeline’s security themselves. The BTC and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline will create regional energy security. One of directions of cooperation in security sphere is providing forces responsible for the work with equipment, conducting maneuvers; we may actively cooperate in the sphere, Henick concluded. (Regnum)