NATO KEEN ON DEVELOPMENT OF RELATIONS WITH AZERBAIJAN

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
April 10 2006

Deputy Speaker of Azerbaijan Parliament, head of the Azerbaijan
delegation at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Ziyafet Askarov met
with the special envoy of the NATO Secretary General in the South
Caucasus and Central Asia Robert Simons.

Having noted, that after signing in 1994 between Azerbaijan and NATO
of the PfP program, the bilateral contacts dynamically develop, Z.

Askarov has stated, that today Azerbaijan as the present partner takes
part in many actions of NATO. Azerbaijan is interested in development
and strengthening of communications with the Euro-Atlantic alliance
and for this purpose carries out all the obligations assigned. We also,
he said, take active part in the antiterrorist coalition. Militaries of
Azerbaijan have joined the peacekeeping forces in Kosovo, Afghanistan
and Iraq. The relations between Milli Majlis and Parliamentary
Assembly of NATO have reached a desirable level. In 1997, Azerbaijan
was admitted to the Assembly with observer status, and in 2002 0 became
member of this Organization, which is evidence to development of links,
and that Azerbaijan is a reliable partner. Despite this, there are
problems impeding all-round development of these ties. Territorial
claims of Armenia against Azerbaijan are threat both for the country
and the entire South Caucasus, he emphasized.

Then, Ziyafet Askarov has in detail informed on the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, emphasizing importance of activation of the role of NATO,
being the guarantor of peace and stability on the planet.

Mr. Robert Simons has told, that the NATO also is interested
in development of links with Azerbaijan and closely watches the
processes ongoing in the country, and that the Organization highly
estimates the progressive steps undertaken in the country after the
past parliamentary elections.

The sides had comprehensive exchange of views on other questions
representing mutual interest.