Azerbaijan, NATO mull development of cooperation
By Sara Rajabova
Azerbaijani Defense Minister visited the NATO military command in Europe as part of his visit to Belgium.
Zakir Hasanov is on an official visit to Belgium at the invitation of the NATO military command in Europe and the U.S. commander in Europe, General Philip Breedlove, Azerbaijani defense ministry said on June 3.
The Azerbaijani delegation was officially welcomed at the NATO military command in Europe on the first day of the visit.
The sides discussed the NATO-Azerbaijan relations and prospects of developing cooperation.
The Azerbaijani delegation got acquainted with the activity of staff of the NATO armed forces in Europe, located in the city of Mons in Belgium.
NATO and Azerbaijan are actively cooperating on democratic, institutional, and military reforms, and enjoy practical cooperation in various areas.
The cooperation plan between Azerbaijan and the NATO is set out in the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) on Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan aspires to achieve Euro-Atlantic standards and get closer to Euro-Atlantic institutions. In this regard, supporting reform in the security sector and establishing democratic institutions are the key elements of the NATO-Azerbaijan cooperation.
The Azerbaijani peacekeeping contingent in Afghanistan doubled in 2009. Currently, some 90 Azerbaijani servicemen are serving in ISAF. A company and then a battalion of peacekeepers were established as part of the Azerbaijani armed forces in 1997.
In the past, Azerbaijan has also actively supported the NATO's operations in Kosovo.
Azerbaijan is among the eight partner countries that have confirmed their presence in Afghanistan after 2014.