Azerbaijan, Baku, April 9 / Trend , J. Babayeva/
The NATO is proud of considering Azerbaijan its partner, U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan Anne Derse said at the conference of NATO-Alliance in Period of Full Political Maturity in Baku on April 9.
"Azerbaijan's strategic decision to integrate to the Euro-Atlantic organization can be the most important decision in Azerbaijan's independent history," Derse said.
Azerbaijan and NATO signed Partnership for Peace Program on May 4, 1994. Azerbaijan was one of the first of the 27 OSCE member states to join the program.
An official document identifying directions of cooperation as a part of the Partnership for Peace Program was signed in April 1996. Azerbaijan is fulfilling about 50 partner tasks under the program.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on Approving Individual Partnership Action Plan of the Republic of Azerbaijan with NATO on August 3, 2005. The cooperation is currently being carried out as a part of the second stage of the IPAP.
Azerbaijan cooperated with the NATO as a part of the alliance's peacekeeping force in Iraq and Kosovo. This cooperation is continued in Afghanistan at present.
Ambassador said Azerbaijan's contribution to mission in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan was sustainable and professional.
She said Azerbaijan-NATO relations not only strengthens security and democratic values, but also encourages political and military modernization and reforms.
"Euro-Atlantic integration covers various processes. The major principle is that democratic state protects not only its territory, but personal freedom of every citizen. This is the factor that NATO believes in. This is common value for the Alliance," Derse said.
Derse said Azerbaijan has undertaken commitments to modernize Azerbaijani armed forces and national security organizations as a part of the NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan. "These reforms will enable Azerbaijani forces to integrate to the NATO operations," Derse said.
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