FM: Azerbaijan interested in developing cooperation with NATO

By Azernews

By Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijan`s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has met with NATO’s Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller on the sidelines of the 23rd Ministerial Council of the OSCE in Hamburg.

The officials exchanged views on the Azerbaijan-NATO partnership and prospects of the bilateral cooperation, Azertac reported.

Gottemoeller hailed Azerbaijan’s supporting NATO Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan. She also highly appreciated Azerbaijan’s contribution to ensure security in Afghanistan.

Mammadyarov, in turn, informed that Azerbaijan made substantial donations to the Afghan National Army (ANA) Trust Fund, adding that “we will continue financially support this Fund”.

The minister stressed that Azerbaijan remains interested in developing cooperation with NATO.

FM Mammadyarov highlighted negotiations to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The FM also noted that Azerbaijan assumed the co-chairmanship of the Heart of Asia – Istanbul process for 2017.

In this function, Azerbaijan will seek close coordination and consultations with all stake-holders, most notably with NATO, with a view to facilitating the international community's comprehensive and consistent support for Afghanistan.

The sides also discussed the issues of Individual Partnership Action Plan of Azerbaijan with NATO.

NATO and Azerbaijan are actively cooperating on democratic, institutional, and military reforms, and enjoy practical cooperation in various areas. The cooperation plan between Azerbaijan and the NATO is set out in the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) on Azerbaijan.

The Hungarian embassy in Baku will operate as a NATO Liaison Office for two years - from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2018.  The Hungarian side will take over these responsibilities from the Romanian Embassy in Baku.