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The statement says that Azerbaijani leadership appealed to the parliament’s standing commission on security and defense issues for withdrawing Azerbaijani military serving with peacekeeping forces in Iraq under the UN mandate. Though the UN mandate will expire on December 31, 2008, the parliament’s standing commission considered the issue and passed a decision to discuss it at the parliament’s session and reach an agreement.
The statement says that the embassy contacted Iraqi government to learn its opinion of the issue. Iraqi leadership expressed its gratitude to Azerbaijani government for its brave act for the sake of supporting Iraq and Iraqi people.
“Azerbaijani peacekeeping contingent was one of the first to help Iraqi people and has protected “Hadise” hydroelectric plant since August 15, 2003. Taking into account Azerbaijani peacekeepers’ duties, it should be noted that their mission was of great importance and an example of discipline and bravery. Iraqi people and government will never forget this noble position. Iraqi government welcomes Azerbaijani high-level military and parliamentary delegation that has come to attend the solemn see-off ceremony held for the Azerbaijani peacekeepers’ bravery and courage, wish success to every Azerbaijani peacekeeper. Let the Azerbaijani peacekeepers, who died in Iraq, rest in peace.”
The statement also touched on Iraq-Azerbaijan relations.
“Official Baku supported the new system in Iraq from the very first, was with Iraqi people in hard times and condemned all the terrorist acts in Iraq and foreign interference. Iraqi leadership hopes it will give an impetus to the development of bilateral relations in various spheres, wishes Azerbaijani government to agree to sign an agreement on economic and cultural cooperation and expects that this agreement will be a step to keep the bilateral relations at the highest level,” the statement says.
