Azerbaijan exercises democratic control over armed forces: NATO

"Azerbaijani parliament's security and defense committee is working on this issue," Rybacki said.

He said cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO is developing positively.

"Azerbaijan is successfully and actively realizing Individual Partnership Action Plan. Defense reforms play great role in Azerbaijan-NATO cooperation," he said.

He said aligning Azerbaijani armed forces with NATO standards is a long process. "Azerbaijan is taking a number of measures in this regard. But still much remains to do. However, NATO is satisfied with results achieved," he said.

NATO-Azerbaijan ties were established on June 4, 1994 following signing of framework agreement Partnership for Peace Program. Azerbaijan was one of the first 27 OSCE member states to sign this program.

In April 1996, official document was signed as a part of the Partnership for Peace Program which identified concrete area of cooperation. Under this program, Azerbaijan is fulfilling 50 partner tasks.

On August 3, 2005, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree to approve "Individual Partnership Action Plan between Republic of Azerbaijan and NATO".

/Trend News/