NATO subcommittee chairman: Azerbaijan becomes NATO's strong partner

Azerbaijan has become a strong partner of NATO, said the chairman of the subcommittee of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

"Azerbaijan is becoming a very strong partner for both NATO and the European Union. Today, Azerbaijan is the focus of the world not only because of its geopolitical position, but also other aspects. Watching the processes taking place here, we witness Azerbaijan's transformation into a rapidly developing country recent years. From this point of view, we are pleased with Azerbaijan's transformation into an even more powerful state," Rainer Stinner, Chairman of the Sub-Committee NATO Partnerships (PCNP), briefed the media.

"The purpose of the visit is to closely get acquainted with the processes taking place in Azerbaijan, exchange views on some issues," said the chairman of the sub-committee.

NATO's cooperation with the South Caucasus states - Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia is mainly carried out within the Partnership for Peace Program, an Individual Partnership Action Plans and the Planning and Review Process. "These documents define the objectives and intentions of the partner countries to hold consultations with NATO on reforms in the spheres of defense, security and military policy.

In addition to supporting the reforms, an important goal of cooperation between NATO and Azerbaijan is to develop interaction of the country's Armed Forces with the forces of NATO countries in peacekeeping operations.

Since 1999, the Azerbaijani troops have being providing support to peacekeeping operations of NATO in Kosovo, and since 2002 - in Afghanistan.


/Trend/