TEAS highlights Azeri–NATO coop in European Parliament

On 26 November, theBrussels office of The European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS) organized ahigh-level seminar in the European Parliament (EP), attended by several membersof the Friends of Azerbaijan Group in the EP.

The aim of the meeting wasto exchange information and ideas concerning Azerbaijan’s NATO commitment andto highlight the main challenges for the mid-term future. Azerbaijan ranksamongst NATO’s most reliable and committed partners, and is currently involvedin providing support for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) inAfghanistan. This underlines the importance Baku attaches to transatlanticco-operation.

The host, Katarina Nevedalova MEP (S&D, Slovakia), commented: “During the past few years, manyMEPs have become aware of developments in the South Caucasus and particularlyin Azerbaijan. It is a real honor for me to participate in this dialogue andfacilitate information exchange between Europe and Azerbaijan. Today, we areplacing emphasis on a topic that is possibly lesser-known – that ofEU-Azerbaijani rapprochement.”

The seminar initiallyconcentrated on the NATO perspective, and then outlined Baku’s position towardsAzerbaijani–NATO co-operation.

Khazar Ibrahim, head of theAzerbaijani Mission to NATO, outlined the current relationship, saying: “NATOand Azerbaijan are actively co-operating on democratic, institutional and defensereforms. During the past decade, they have also focused on such areas as civilemergency planning, scientific exchange, environmental co-operation and publicinformation. Azerbaijan is perceived as one of the most constructive partnercountries to NATO.”

He continued: “Azerbaijan’sdialogue with NATO is about more than a purely political commitment regardingthe delivery of human and logistic support to various missions. It is aboutbridging the South Caucasus and the world. Azerbaijan is legally and morallyengaged in participating in future challenges, and remains committed to NATOambitions.” Ambassador Ibrahim also gave a clear picture on Azerbaijan’sIndividual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) with NATO, which will be effectivefor the next two years.

In their comments, FuadIsgandarov, ambassador of Azerbaijan to Belgium and the EU, and Inese VaidereMEP (EPP, Latvia) acknowledged the links between Azerbaijan’s Euro-Atlanticco-operation and EU security policy. Ms Vaidere said: “Azerbaijan is seeking toachieve Euro-Atlantic standards and to draw closer to Euro-Atlanticinstitutions.”

Dr Roman Huna, head of TEASBelgium, concluded: “One of the most important priorities of TEAS is toeffectively inform the European public about Azerbaijan and its relevance toEurope. NATO ranks amongst one of the foremost international institutions whereAzerbaijan has demonstrated its reliability and constructive attitude towardsco-operation. Azerbaijan’s current contribution towards the NATO commitment inboth Afghanistan and in Kosovo during the 1990s has been greatly appreciated bythe international community. Today’s event reiterated the importance ofmultilateral dialogue at a time when international security remains high on thepolitical agenda.”

ANN.Az