Azerbaijan, Baku, Apr. 16 / Trend E.Ostapenko /
NATO Special Representative to the South Caucasus and Central Asia Robert Simmons believes it is too early to apply an Intensified Dialogue in NATO-Azerbaijan relations.
"Azerbaijan aims to build strong ties with NATO, but not NATO membership, at least not at the present time. It seems logical to me that the Intensified Dialogue is not the right vehicle for Azerbaijan at present," Simmons told Trend in the run-up to his visit to Baku in mid-April.
NATO's cooperation with the South Caucasus is mainly carried out within the Partnership for Peace, Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) and Planning and Analysis Process programs. These programs define the objectives and intentions of partner countries in holding consultations with NATO about reforms in the defense, security and military spheres.
Azerbaijan has been cooperating with NATO within IPAP since 2005. The program is originally designed for two years. According to other partner states' experience, after this time the partnership with NATO moves to a new level of integration - Intensive Dialogue. In 2009 the IPAP-2 program with Azerbaijan expired, but the sides have already agreed to repeat the program for another two years in the IPAP-3 format.
Simmons believes that NATO-Azerbaijan relations have become increasingly beneficial in the past few years and the IPAP has been the main vehicle in this regard. But the Intensified Dialogue has been designed for countries seeking NATO membership.
"The forthcoming visit should also be a first opportunity to exchange views on priority issues that could usefully form part of a new and updated IPAP to be developed in the months ahead," he said.
Simmons said that during his stay in Baku he is looking forward to meeting with Azerbaijan's State Commission on Cooperation with NATO, which has been functioning since 1997.
"The improvement of interagency cooperation is a key aim of the IPAP, and commission has, of course, a central role to play in this regard," Simmons said. "I also believe that the IPAP is moving NATO and Azerbaijan toward enhanced practical cooperation and a broadened political dialogue."