Asim Mollazade, chairman of the Democratic Reforms Party, has called for the extension of a military procurement and service agreement signed between the Azerbaijani and US ministries of defense.The agreement (USA-AZE-02) is of strategic importance to Azerbaijan, Mollazade said in parliament on Dec. 27. It is important for the development and modernization of the Azerbaijani military, he said.Military agreements like these do not mean that Azerbaijan is backing away from the peace process with Armenia, Mollazade said. “Azerbaijan is strengthening its military might. Yet, the country prefers a negotiated settlement to the conflict,” he said. Mollazade said Armenia is ignoring Azerbaijan’s calls for peace. Baku has repeatedly made it clear to the international community that it wants peace and cooperation in the region. 

“Members of parliament representing the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as Rovshan Rzayev, a board member at the Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabakh Public Union, have called for meetings and cooperation between the two communities of the region. However, the Armenian community of Nagorno-Karabakh avoids meetings with the Azerbaijani side. Therefore, we should let the international community know that Armenians are not responding to our calls. We should also call on them to support meetings and discussions between the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities,” Mollazade said.

ANN.Az