Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

2012 was one of the most important years for the expansion of relations between NATO and Azerbaijan, says Daniel Cristian Ciobanu, the Ambassador of Romania -- whose embassy acted as the alliance's coordinator in the country last year, Trend news agency reported on Monday.

Addressing the forum of the Organization of Integration of Azerbaijani Youth to Europe (AGAT), Ciobanu noted that NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen visited Azerbaijan last year and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev attended the NATO Chicago Summit in May 2012.

All these facts indicate the high-level cooperation between NATO and Azerbaijan, the ambassador said.

Ciobanu said special attention should be paid to the prevention of potetial threats to the countries of Europe, South Caucasus and the Caspian region, such as terrorism and threats to security and transportation of energy resources.

Ciobanu said there are many issues that need to be solved through a collaborative approach. NATO attaches great importance to Azerbaijan's contribution in this area, he said.

"As is known, Azerbaijan is involved in the operations in Afghanistan, not only through its military forces, but also by providing its space for the coalition's cargo transits, which is appreciated by NATO," he said.

Azerbaijan was among the first countries from the former Soviet Union to join NATO's Partnership for Peace (PFP) program. President Heydar Aliyev signed the PFP Framework Document during his official visit to NATO Headquarters in May 1994.

Bilateral partnership incorporates such spheres as military cooperation, defense modernization, democratic control of the armed forces, political consultations on security issues, peace support operations, security sector reform, civil emergency planning, security related scientific, economic and environmental cooperation.

The Individual Partnership Program (IPP) annually adopted by Azerbaijan includes all joint activities and events to be attended by national military and civilian representatives. Azerbaijan participated in more than 250 NATO/PFP activities and events in 2007. This number is one of the highest in the ranking among the Partner Nations and the highest one in the South Caucasus.

In 2002 Azerbaijan proposed to extend PFP cooperation to broader security sector issues such as the defense against terrorism, the modernization of the State Border Service and transformation of Internal Troops. At the moment, Azerbaijan has undertaken more than 50 Partnership Goals, mainly related to national defense and security sectors.

In May 2003 Azerbaijan formally applied for joining the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) adopted during the Prague Summit in 2002. IPAP was approved in May 2005. The IPAP covers all major political, defense, security and security related economic, scientific and environmental spheres.

Azerbaijan is following closely the future development of partnership with NATO and contributes to its expansion to wider areas.