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. 

ANN.Az