Azerbaijan, Baku, May 5/ Trend , K. Zarbaliyeva/
Azerbaijan's NATO membership is an additional way to ensure country's full admission to the Euro-Atlantic area, Azerbaijani deputy foreign minister Araz Azimov said at a conference "NATO-Azerbaijan: Glance at Future Appreciating Past" dedicated to 15th anniversary of cooperation with the alliance.
NATO-Azerbaijan ties were established in 1992 after Azerbaijan's accession of to the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (renamed into Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council - EAPC in 1997). The cooperation was enhanced following the Azerbaijan's accession to the Partnership for Peace Program in 1994. In addition to supporting the reforms, one of the key goals of NATO-Azerbaijan cooperation is to develop the ability of the country's armed forces to interact with the NATO forces in peacekeeping operations and crisis response.
Azimov said NATO membership is not considered "panacea from all evils," "Country's geographic location, crisis and others factors are taken into consideration while granting NATO membership," Azimov said.
Success has been achieved in border control, energy security and anti-terror operations due to cooperation with the NATO, deputy minister said.
He said efforts are made to enhance Azerbaijan-NATO cooperation.
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