Azerbaijani peacekeeping forces
Encyclopedia
The Baku N unit is the primary peacekeeping unit of the Azerbaijani Land Forces. The Army's peacekeeping
detachment was formed in 1997 and was later transformed into a battalion
. Soldiers are carefully selected for the Baku N unit. The unit is trained intensively on tactical preparation, sports, foreign languages, contacts with local residents and other subjects. After six months of training, members are sent to join peacekeeping operations.
Since September 1999 Azerbaijani servicemen acted within the NATO/U.S.-led Coalition intervention forces in Kosovo
, Afghanistan
and Iraq
. Azerbaijan also floated the idea of creating peacekeeping units to be deployed in separatist
conflict areas of GUAM
countries.
battalion. The Azerbaijanis oversaw eighteen settlements in the area. On February 26, 2008, as Kosovo parliament declared independence
, Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev
addressed the National Assembly
on behalf of withdrawal of Azeri peacekeepers from Kosovo. The address was considered at Assembly session on March 4, 2008 and accepted with eighty seven votes placet, three contra and two abstained.
On April 15 of the same year the platoon
returned to Azerbaijan. Overall about 400 Azeri servicemen have administered peacekeeping in Kosovo.
from 2003. The peacekeeping unit consisted of 14 officers, 16 sergeants and 120 privates, who secured the hydroelectric power station and reservoir in Haditha
from August 2003. One company of Azerbaijani peacekeepers commanded by Captain Nasimi Javadov guarded the area of Haditha Dam
, which is one of the principal sources of electricity in Iraq. An Azeri delegation headed by the Deputy Minister of Defense visited the Hadithah Dam at the invitation of the U.S. Marine Corps officials. During the Iraq peacekeeping one Azeri serviceman (Rafael Agayev) died. He had served in Iraq for one year and on June 27, 2008 Agayev's body was sent to homeland, where he was buried in his native village.
From 2004 the company became part of the USMC led Multi-National Forces West
.
Ilham Aliyev’s address to recall the Azeri peacekeepers in Iraq was accepted at the plenary session
of National Assembly by eighty six votes placet and one contra.
Four Azeri officers in Iraq (Maj. Huseyn Dashdamirov, Capt. Nasimi Javadov, Capt. Alizamin Karimov and Sr. Lt. Abdulla Abdullayev) have been awarded the US Navy and Marines Corps Achievement Medal
.
(ISAF) consisting of 21 soldiers, one officer and one NCO
in November 2002 with the aim of contributing to provision of peace, security and order in Afghanistan.
The Azeri platoon commanded by First Lieutenant Shamil Mammadov performed patrolling duties in the populated district of southern Kabul
. On October 2, 2008 the National Assembly passed a decision to send 45 more peacekeepers to Afghanistan. In an interview to Azeri Press Agency Brigadier-General Richard Blanchette said: "As the spokesperson for ISAF on behalf of General McKiernan, the Commander of ISAF, I thank your country, your soldiers, and the families of your soldiers, for their contribution to this vital mission".
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
detachment was formed in 1997 and was later transformed into a battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
. Soldiers are carefully selected for the Baku N unit. The unit is trained intensively on tactical preparation, sports, foreign languages, contacts with local residents and other subjects. After six months of training, members are sent to join peacekeeping operations.
Since September 1999 Azerbaijani servicemen acted within the NATO/U.S.-led Coalition intervention forces in Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. Azerbaijan also floated the idea of creating peacekeeping units to be deployed in separatist
Separatism
Separatism is the advocacy of a state of cultural, ethnic, tribal, religious, racial, governmental or gender separation from the larger group. While it often refers to full political secession, separatist groups may seek nothing more than greater autonomy...
conflict areas of GUAM
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
countries.
Kosovo
The Azeri peacekeeping unit in Kosovo (1 officer, 1 sergeant and 32 soldiers) carried service from September, 1999 within the TurkishTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
battalion. The Azerbaijanis oversaw eighteen settlements in the area. On February 26, 2008, as Kosovo parliament declared independence
2008 Kosovo declaration of independence
The 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence was adopted on 17 February 2008 by individual members of the Assembly of Kosovo acting in personal capacity and not binding to the Assembly itself...
, Azerbaijani President
President of Azerbaijan
The country of Azerbaijan is a presidential republic, with the President of Azerbaijan as the head of state, and the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan as head of government...
Ilham Aliyev
Ilham Aliyev
Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev is the President of Azerbaijan since 2003. He also functions as the Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party and the head of the National Olympic Committee...
addressed the National Assembly
National Assembly of Azerbaijan
The National Assembly , also transliterated as Milli Majlis is the legislative branch of government in Azerbaijan. The unicameral National Assembly has 125 deputies: previously 100 members were elected for five-year terms in single-seat constituencies and 25 were members elected by proportional...
on behalf of withdrawal of Azeri peacekeepers from Kosovo. The address was considered at Assembly session on March 4, 2008 and accepted with eighty seven votes placet, three contra and two abstained.
On April 15 of the same year the platoon
Platoon
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 16 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer—the...
returned to Azerbaijan. Overall about 400 Azeri servicemen have administered peacekeeping in Kosovo.
Iraq
Azeri servicemen were deployed to Iraq as part of Combined Joint Task Force 7Combined Joint Task Force 7
Combined Joint Task Force 7 was the interim military formation that directed the U.S. effort in Iraq between June 2003 and May 2004. It replaced the Coalition Forces Land Component Command on 14 June 2003. CFLCC was the land forces component of United States Central Command that carried out the...
from 2003. The peacekeeping unit consisted of 14 officers, 16 sergeants and 120 privates, who secured the hydroelectric power station and reservoir in Haditha
Haditha
Haditha is a city in the western Iraqi Al Anbar Governorate, about 240 km northwest of Baghdad. It is a farming town situated on the Euphrates River at . Its population of around 100,000 people is predominantly Sunni Muslim Arabs...
from August 2003. One company of Azerbaijani peacekeepers commanded by Captain Nasimi Javadov guarded the area of Haditha Dam
Haditha Dam
The Haditha Dam or Qadisiya Dam is an earth-fill dam on the Euphrates, north of Haditha , creating Lake Qadisiyah . The dam is just over long and high. The purpose of the dam is to generate hydroelectricity, regulate the flow of the Euphrates and provide water for irrigation...
, which is one of the principal sources of electricity in Iraq. An Azeri delegation headed by the Deputy Minister of Defense visited the Hadithah Dam at the invitation of the U.S. Marine Corps officials. During the Iraq peacekeeping one Azeri serviceman (Rafael Agayev) died. He had served in Iraq for one year and on June 27, 2008 Agayev's body was sent to homeland, where he was buried in his native village.
From 2004 the company became part of the USMC led Multi-National Forces West
Multi-National Forces West
Multi-National Forces West or United States Forces West was one of the coalition headquarters under Multi-National Force-Iraq. It was headquartered by either I or II U.S. Marine Expeditionary Force that rotated on a 12 month basis...
.
Ilham Aliyev’s address to recall the Azeri peacekeepers in Iraq was accepted at the plenary session
Plenary session
Plenary session is a term often used in conferences to define the part of the conference when all members of all parties are to attend.These sessions may contain a broad range of content from keynotes to panel discussions and are not necessarily related to a specific style of delivery.The term has...
of National Assembly by eighty six votes placet and one contra.
Four Azeri officers in Iraq (Maj. Huseyn Dashdamirov, Capt. Nasimi Javadov, Capt. Alizamin Karimov and Sr. Lt. Abdulla Abdullayev) have been awarded the US Navy and Marines Corps Achievement Medal
Achievement Medal
The Achievement Medal is a military decoration of the United States military. The Achievement Medal was first proposed as a means to recognize the contributions of junior officers and enlisted personnel who were not eligible to receive the higher Commendation Medal or the Meritorious Service...
.
Afghanistan
Azerbaijan joined with platoon to International Security Assistance ForceInternational Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
(ISAF) consisting of 21 soldiers, one officer and one NCO
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
in November 2002 with the aim of contributing to provision of peace, security and order in Afghanistan.
The Azeri platoon commanded by First Lieutenant Shamil Mammadov performed patrolling duties in the populated district of southern Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
. On October 2, 2008 the National Assembly passed a decision to send 45 more peacekeepers to Afghanistan. In an interview to Azeri Press Agency Brigadier-General Richard Blanchette said: "As the spokesperson for ISAF on behalf of General McKiernan, the Commander of ISAF, I thank your country, your soldiers, and the families of your soldiers, for their contribution to this vital mission".