Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS General Newswire
January 18, 2007 Thursday 7:01 PM MSK

Azeri army to achieve NATO standards by end of 2007 – deputy

Reforms in the Azeri army will be completed towards the end of 2007,
member of the Azeri delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly
Siyavush Novruzov told reporters on Thursday.

"By the end of this year, Azerbaijan’s military-industrial complex
and Armed Forces will be brought in full conformity to NATO
standards," he said.

In 2006, Azerbaijan took part in about 600 NATO events, twice as many
as Georgia and Ukraine, Novruzov said.

One of the Azeri army brigades has already been transferred to NATO
standards, the deputy said.

The Azeri side intends to bring up the question of the "illegal
militarization in neighboring Armenia" during the spring session of
NATO’s Parliamentary Assembly.