The bilateral relations between Hungary and Azerbaijan, elevated to the level of strategic partnership in January this year, offer an excellent framework to strengthening our military–defense cooperation, said Minister of Defense Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky on June 7, after conducting talks with General Colonel Zakir Hasanov, the Minister for National Defense of Azerbaijan.
Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said that the next step of the military cooperation between the two countries is that during the summer the office of the military attaché in Baku is to be opened. This will facilitate the process of joint work in the field of military cooperation and defense industry. From the point of view of Europe – emphasized Minister Szalay-Bobrovniczky – today Azerbaijan plays an outstanding role not only in the field of energetics but the stability of the Caucasian region is an aspect that is at least as important as well.
The Minister also shared the news that he and Zakir Hasanov have reached an agreement on the mutual exchange of experiences. Minister Szalay-Bobrovniczky pointed out that Azerbaijan disposes of a serious army and experience in warfare. In order to share these, an exchange of experts will take place. When the Minister of Defense of Hungary inspected the training of special forces, he was able to be convinced of the advanced stage of the Azerbaijani army in person.
Minister Szalay-Bobrovniczky stated that in the security situation of today, defense industry is a field that requires special development in all countries. It was in this spirit that he held talks with Madat Guliyev, the Minister for Defense Industry of Azerbaijan on mapping out the opportunities for cooperation in the field of defense industry.
It was with Farid Gayibov, the Minister for Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan that Minister Szalay-Bobrovniczky held discussions with on raising the already excellent relations in sports diplomacy to a further level. The Hungarian Minister stressed that in the framework of the sports scholarships of Stipendium Hungaricum ever more young people receive the opportunity to get acquainted with one another’s country and culture on the basis of the values of sports.
