“Azerbaijan, having turned into the leading country of the South Caucasus, is now key figure able to determine the development of events in the region,” said Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of National Security, Major General Elchin Aliyev.
The Public Relations Department of the Ministry of National Security (MNS) told that the deputy minister noted in his speech during a conference on the subject titled “The role of youth in ensuring national security” at the Azerbaijan Technical University (AzTU) that Azerbaijan is located in a region of overlapping interests and thus its rapid development in recent years and growing influence as a transit country, transcontinental oil and gas lines put into use, political-military process ongoing around the world, expansion of terrorism, information warfare and cyber crimes all call for comprehensive security measures, and require of us to carry out these measures in a new form that would correspond to modern standards. This issue is especially topical in Azerbaijan, a country known for bringing together a variety of civilizations and different cultures and its national-religious tolerance. Security issues are of so much importance to Azerbaijan because Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan continues up until now. The conflict still being unsettled because of Armenia’s destructive position, preparation of terrorists and cultivation of narcotic plants in occupied Azerbaijani territories and the usage of these territories as transit for arms smuggling is a threat not only to the South Caucasus region but the entire world.
It was empathized that in recent years, successful measures were taken to neutralize terrorist and radical-extremist groups, which committed or intended to commit socially dangerous acts such as terror attacks, seizure of power by force, the change of the constitutional order, etc. As a result of purposeful counter-intelligence and counter-terrorism actions to prevent Azerbaijani citizens from joining radical-extremist and illegal armed groups in foreign countries, a number of Azerbaijani citizens, who fought within illegal groups in Syria and Iraq and were members of terrorist organizations in Pakistan and Afghanistan, were brought to justice. Moreover, as a result of the measures carried out in recent to fight transnational organized crimes and illicit drug trafficking, more than 5 tonnes of hard drugs were found and seized by the National Security Ministry.
Elchin Aliyev emphasized that the MNS is closely involved in the domestic and foreign policy successfully pursued by the Azerbaijani president, as well as the creation of favorable conditions for the strategy on energy security, adding that the ministry collaborates with other state authorities in the execution of the tasks and more than 70 foreign intelligence agencies and organizations.
It was noted that despite the difficult situation in the Middle East conflicts, threats posed by various radical tendencies and organized crimes, Azerbaijan has managed to preserve its stability and development. These threats covering a wide geographical area require being more vigilant on the eve of preparations for the first European Games, an important international event to be held in our country.
International terrorist organizations formed as transnational organized criminal networks intend to target Azerbaijan, constantly threatened by Armenian terrorist organizations. Therefore, the joint efforts, alertness, awareness of the society especially the students and youngsters are very important factors in the fight against the scourge of terrorism.
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