Azerbaijani, NATO eye military-political processes in region
By Sara Rajabova
Azerbaijani Defense Minister, Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov has received deputy Commander of NATO Land Forces based in Izmir city of Turkey, Lieutenant-General Gordon Messenger.
The meeting took place at the Garaheybet Training Center on May 7, Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said.
Messenger visited Azerbaijan to observe the NATO Evaluation Level 2 exercises of Azerbaijani armed forces' motorized infantry battalion as part of the Operational Capabilities Concept (OCC).
The sides discussed the current relations between Azerbaijan and NATO and military-political processes in the region.
Messenger expressed satisfaction with the high level of professionalism and readiness of the personnel of the Azerbaijani armed forces that took part at the training.
Deputy Defense Minister, Chief of General Staff, Colonel General Najmeddin Sadigov also attended the meeting.
NATO Evaluation Level 2 exercises of Azerbaijani armed forces' motorized infantry battalion kicked off in Baku on May 5 and will last until May 8.
The field exercises, held at the Garaheybet Training Center, includes about 900 soldiers of the armed forces, 100 military equipments and four helicopters.
NATO and Azerbaijan are actively cooperating on democratic, institutional, and military reforms, and enjoy 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 reform in the security sector and establishing democratic institutions are the key elements of the NATO-Azerbaijan cooperation.
The Azerbaijani peacekeeping contingent in Afghanistan doubled in 2009. Currently, some 90 Azerbaijani servicemen are serving in ISAF. A company and then a battalion of peacekeepers were established as part of the Azerbaijani armed forces in 1997.
In the past, Azerbaijan has also actively supported the NATO's operations in Kosovo.
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