NATO to use Azeri military facilities

Turan news agency, Baku
16 Mar 07

16 March: Two military units of Azerbaijan will be modernized in
accordance with NATO standards, NATO secretary-general’s special
representative in the South Caucasus and Central Asia, Robert Simmons,
said at a news conference in Baku today.

The units will be prepared to ensure their compatibility with NATO
countries’ military structures. One of the units will carry out tasks
as part of the rapid reaction force. The other will be involved in
peacekeeping operations.

Besides, one of the country’s military aerodromes will also be
modernized in line with NATO standards to be used for transfer of
members of the military and cargoes to Afghanistan.

Asked what the status of the aerodrome will be and whether it will be
loaned to NATO, Simmons said that the issue will be tackled at
bilateral level with a NATO country that will help modernize this
military facility.

[Passage omitted: Simmons pleased with the completion of the first
part of the Individual Partnership Action Plan]