Azernews.Az

By Jamila Babayeva

Azerbaijani Defense Minister, Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov visited the NATO Headquarters to attend the meeting of NATO Defense Ministers with non-NATO ISAF Contributing Nations on February 27.

During the meeting the sides discussed the current status of ISAF operation, transition process, progress of transfer of security responsibilities to Afghan National Security Forces, current political situation in Afghanistan and the necessary legal framework for launching the Resolute Support Mission, Azerbaijan's mission to NATO reported.

Speaking at the meeting, Hasanov highlighted Azerbaijan's ongoing support to Afghanistan and reaffirmed the contribution of Azerbaijan to the post 2014 Resolute Support Mission.

Taking the opportunity of his visit to Brussels, Hasanov also met with Georgia's Defense Minister Irakli Alasania, Latvia's Defense Minister Raimonds Vejonis and Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Philip Breedlove and discussed with them the issues of mutual interest.

NATO and Azerbaijan are actively cooperating on democratic, institutional, and military reforms, as well as conducting practical cooperation in various areas.

The cooperation plan between Azerbaijan and the NATO is set out in the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) on Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan aspires to achieve Euro-Atlantic standards and get closer to Euro-Atlantic institutions. In this regard, supporting the security sector reform and establishing democratic institutions are the key elements of the NATO-Azerbaijan cooperation.

Moreover, Azerbaijan is among the eight partner countries that have confirmed their presence in Afghanistan after 2014. Peacekeepers of the country will stay in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of US troops from the country by the end of 2014. However, Azerbaijan will reduce its presence in Afghanistan after 2014.