NATO Days launched in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan opened NATO Days today, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported. NATO Days will run up to Nov. 5. The foundation for cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO was laid through the signing of a document within the framework of the Partnership for Peace on May 4, 1994. Azerbaijan was one of 27 OSCE member countries to join the program.

Azerbaijan has been cooperating with NATO within IPAP since 2005. The program was originally designed to last two years. Today, cooperation is held within the second phase of the Individual Partnership Action Plan between Azerbaijan and NATO, which covers 2008-2010.

The primary areas of cooperation include the establishment of full democratic control over the armed forces, defense planning and defense budgeting, and the reestablishment of military structures through NATO norms and standards.

Since 1999, Azerbaijani troops have provided support for NATO peacekeeping operations in Kosovo, and since 2002 in Afghanistan.


/Trend/