Azerbaijan: NATO’s “Strategic Partner” On Russian, Iranian Borders

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
April 11, 2014
NATO Official Praises Azerbaijan’s Partnership In Alliance
A NATO official has praised the alliance’s relations with Azerbaijan while marking 20 years of closer cooperation between Baku and Brussels.
Sorin Ducaru, NATO’s assistant secretary-general for emerging security challenges, told journalists in Baku on April 11 that relations between NATO and Azerbaijan had reached the level of a “strategic partnership.”
Ducaru spoke at a conference marking the 20th anniversary of Azerbaijan’s participation in NATO’s Partnership for Peace program.
Ducaru called Azerbaijan one of NATO’s long-term partners and hailed Baku’s participation in peacekeeping efforts in Afghanistan, the fight against terrorism, and supporting energy security.
Based on reporting by Trend.az and Interfax
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Trend News Agency
April 11, 2014
2014 is important stage in Azerbaijan-NATO cooperation
By Saba Agayeva

The relations between NATO and Azerbaijan are fruitful, the organizations’ Deputy Secretary General Sorin Ducaru told the media on April 11.
Ducaru is taking part in the conference on the prospects of cooperation with NATO and the 20th anniversary of “Partnership for Peace”.
“2014 is an important milestone in the cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO as this year the coalition forces will be withdrawn from Afghanistan,” he added.
“Azerbaijan has opened transit opportunities for us,” he added. “In particular, this year we will withdraw our forces from Afghanistan. After 2014, our presence in Afghanistan will differ from the previous one.”
He stressed that practical cooperation is also essential.
“We supported the reforms in Azerbaijan, particularly in the sphere of defense,” he added.
Ducaru stressed that the sides conducted about 80 joint activities, which raise the practical cooperation to a higher level.
“This meeting is an excellent platform for discussing the achievements, failures and future measures of cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO, as well as achieving successful results,” Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov said at the conference.
“The 20th anniversary of the “Partnership for Peace” program is being celebrated today,” he added. “We will discuss the present, as well as the expectations connected with the future of NATO, the process settlement in the alliance.”
Translated by NH
Edited by CN

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