NATO awaiting Azeri membership bid, its official says
(AssA-Irada, June 17) - Azerbaijan should officially express its
aspiration to become a NATO member if it is willing to join the
alliance, a NATO official has said.
Diego Ruiz-Palmer, head of the Planning Section at the NATO Headquarters Operations Division, said the issue was not on agenda at this point as Azerbaijan had not applied for membership yet. He added, however, that it was time for Baku "to make its political choice".
"We therefore believe the country should avail of NATO's open-door policy and express its willingness to become a member state," Ruiz-Palmer said.
He said the bloc deemed the country as its active partner. "Azerbaijan is participating in NATO's Individual Partnership Plan (IPAP) and making a contribution to international security."
Ruiz-Palmer said Azerbaijan should also make steps toward ensuring a logical conclusion of this cooperation.
Along with improvements in the military field, IPAP envisions political and economic reforms.
Diego Ruiz-Palmer, head of the Planning Section at the NATO Headquarters Operations Division, said the issue was not on agenda at this point as Azerbaijan had not applied for membership yet. He added, however, that it was time for Baku "to make its political choice".
"We therefore believe the country should avail of NATO's open-door policy and express its willingness to become a member state," Ruiz-Palmer said.
He said the bloc deemed the country as its active partner. "Azerbaijan is participating in NATO's Individual Partnership Plan (IPAP) and making a contribution to international security."
Ruiz-Palmer said Azerbaijan should also make steps toward ensuring a logical conclusion of this cooperation.
Along with improvements in the military field, IPAP envisions political and economic reforms.
Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention.
Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis.
By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more.
Subscribe
You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper
Thank you!