Azerbaijan, NATO to cooperate in ensuring gas infrastructure security

Ensuring the security of pipelines between the Caspian fields and Europe will be one of the most important directions of further cooperation between NATO and Azerbaijan, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on January 15.

"Azerbaijan signed the project of the century less than a month ago - the project on building international infrastructure for delivering Azerbaijani gas to Europe and construction will begin soon," Aliyev said when speaking at a news conference following a meeting with Rasmussen in NATO headquarters in Brussels.

"Azerbaijan takes on the obligation to fulfill in time its part of the project on energy diversification, security and cooperation, Aliyev said.

"The project will require additional coordination between countries and companies participating in it and we will need to ensure the appropriate level of security for the most important infrastructure," the Azerbaijani president said.

The security aspect is important in energy cooperation between NATO and Azerbaijan, Rasmussen said.

Another important cooperation direction is Azerbaijan's participation in peacemaking operations, which presumes in particular operative cooperation of armed forces and, thus, reforming the Azerbaijani army, Rasmussen and Aliyev said.

Azerbaijan will continue participating in security efforts in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of NATO forces from the country in late 2014, Aliyev said. Currently about 40% 'no-fly' cargo for NATO servicemen in Afghanistan is delivered via Azerbaijan.

"The transit route via Azerbaijan is the most reliable and safe," the president said.

Azerbaijan contributes to the trust fund of the Afghan national army - it has already contributed one million euro and has taken on the obligation to contribute one million more, Aliyev said. The Azerbaijani president announced the decision to contribute another million during the news conference.

Azerbaijan will continue training Afghan people in the academies of its law enforcement bodies.

Azerbaijan appreciates NATO's help in reforming the Azerbaijani armed forces, which are being transformed under NATO standards, Aliyev said. The de-mining projects are implemented in Azerbaijan with the help of NATO, including financial.