Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend I.Alizade / Strengthening of relations with NATO and the Euro-Atlantic establishment takes precedence in Azerbaijan's foreign policy, Elmar Mammadyarov, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, said in Baku on 20 September at a meeting with the Sub-Committee of the NATO Parliamentary Committee delegation led by the chairman on democratic governance, Bulgarian MP Chetin Kazak.
" Azerbaijan is carrying out its second phase of the Individual Partnership Program with NATO. Under the program the Azerbaijani Army is being brought in line with NATO standards," the foreign minister said.
Mammadyarov said that work over the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline of Azerbaijan is complete. Azerbaijan is taking a particular interest in the Nabucco project offered by Austria," the minister said.
The visit of the Sub-Committee of the NATO Parliamentary Committee delegation to Azerbaijan began on 19 September during which time meetings will be held at the Interior Ministry, the Security Ministry and Milli Majlis. The NATO delegations plan to study and become familiar with the political, economic, military and human rights situation. Results of the visit will be included in a report.