NATO OFFICIAL, AZERI LEADERS MULL US-IRAN TENSION

AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
April 13 2006

The US-Iran tension, the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh
conflict and cooperation prospects are in focus of the ongoing visit
by a NATO official to Baku.

The representative of NATO Secretary General to South Caucasus
and Central Asia, Robert Simmons, said the alliance and Azerbaijan
are successfully collaborating. The first stage of the Individual
Partnership Plan is drawing to a close and implementation of the next
stage has been discussed with Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov,
he said.

Simmons said NATO backs a peaceful settlement to the Garabagh dispute
and sees mutual efforts by the conflicting sides as pivotal to reach
peace. During the visit, the NATO official will also monitor the
country’s progress in fulfilling its commitments on the Partnership
Plan.