NATO to shift focus, says paper editor
NATO will replace its logo in 2009, signaling a
shift in its priorities toward a stronger social agenda, an
Azerbaijani newspaper editor has noted.
Hikmat Babaoglu, editor-in-chief of New Azerbaijan newspaper, who recently visited the military bloc`s headquarters as part of an Azerbaijani delegation, told AzerNEWS that NATO, which will mark its 60-year anniversary next year, is seeking to reinvent itself. Therefore, the alliance is currently focusing on the implementation of mostly social and public programs.
"We became convinced once again during the visit that NATO is not merely a stronghold of military power, a perception that we have embraced, but is also a global, international and universal organization. This organization does not deal with military issues alone, and it has different humanitarian and public programs. Proof of that is NATO`s newly-established public diplomacy department."
Babaoglu noted that the 26-member alliance had no intention of marking its jubilee in a high-profile, festive manner. "It will mark it simply as a serious organization pursuing a policy aimed at resolving such challenges facing the world as crises, political stand-off and ethnic problems."
The newspaper editor went on to say that relations between Azerbaijan and NATO meet national interests. He said Azerbaijan`s policy towards integration with NATO and other western institutions is receiving praise within the alliance.
Adding that NATO-Azerbaijan relations are on an upward trend, the editor noted that the military bloc is cooperating with Azerbaijan within the framework of the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP). "Azerbaijan`s attitude towards cooperation with NATO is the most correct of all South Caucasus countries. Baku has no intention of speeding up or slowing down the developments. The cooperation is unfolding at the desired pace," he said.
The IPAP program is intended to adapt the military systems and command of the countries interested in cooperating with NATO to those of the alliance`s member countries. This facilitates management of the military system in these countries and makes cooperation easier. According to officials, the first component of this program, which started in April 2005 and ended in January 2008, has been a great success in Azerbaijan. Talks are currently under way over the second section of the program.
While in Brussels, the Azerbaijani delegation held a number of official meetings where NATO-Azerbaijan relations, the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict and energy security issues were discussed.
Hikmat Babaoglu, editor-in-chief of New Azerbaijan newspaper, who recently visited the military bloc`s headquarters as part of an Azerbaijani delegation, told AzerNEWS that NATO, which will mark its 60-year anniversary next year, is seeking to reinvent itself. Therefore, the alliance is currently focusing on the implementation of mostly social and public programs.
"We became convinced once again during the visit that NATO is not merely a stronghold of military power, a perception that we have embraced, but is also a global, international and universal organization. This organization does not deal with military issues alone, and it has different humanitarian and public programs. Proof of that is NATO`s newly-established public diplomacy department."
Babaoglu noted that the 26-member alliance had no intention of marking its jubilee in a high-profile, festive manner. "It will mark it simply as a serious organization pursuing a policy aimed at resolving such challenges facing the world as crises, political stand-off and ethnic problems."
The newspaper editor went on to say that relations between Azerbaijan and NATO meet national interests. He said Azerbaijan`s policy towards integration with NATO and other western institutions is receiving praise within the alliance.
Adding that NATO-Azerbaijan relations are on an upward trend, the editor noted that the military bloc is cooperating with Azerbaijan within the framework of the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP). "Azerbaijan`s attitude towards cooperation with NATO is the most correct of all South Caucasus countries. Baku has no intention of speeding up or slowing down the developments. The cooperation is unfolding at the desired pace," he said.
The IPAP program is intended to adapt the military systems and command of the countries interested in cooperating with NATO to those of the alliance`s member countries. This facilitates management of the military system in these countries and makes cooperation easier. According to officials, the first component of this program, which started in April 2005 and ended in January 2008, has been a great success in Azerbaijan. Talks are currently under way over the second section of the program.
While in Brussels, the Azerbaijani delegation held a number of official meetings where NATO-Azerbaijan relations, the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict and energy security issues were discussed.
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