Azerbaijan, Baku, 22 May / Trend E. Mehtiev /
The Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy (ADA) hosts a two-day conference on the partnership with NATO entitled "Security Challenges: the expansion of energy security in the XXI century", which started on Wednesday.
The conference is co-organized by the NATO Foreign Ministry, the U.S. State Department, the Caspian Center for Energy and Environment, ADA and the Romanian Embassy in Azerbaijan.
The task of the conference is to bring together the NATO experts, politicians and scientists as well as partners of the alliance to discuss a flexible way for prevention of risks that may arise for energy security, and strengthening scientific cooperation in the field of security.
The discussions will focus on topics such as the role of the Caspian basin in strengthening the energy security of Europe, threats and cyber threats posed by terrorism capable of affecting the security of energy infrastructure, cross-border cooperation.
Opening the event, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, the rector of ADA, Ambassador Hafiz Pashayev spoke about cooperation with NATO and noted the importance of further strengthening cooperation with the alliance.
Addressing the meeting, the Ambassador of Romania to Azerbaijan Cristian Ciobanu stressed the special importance of the conference and the important role of Azerbaijan in the energy security of Europe, emphasizing the fact of Azerbaijan being a reliable partner of NATO.
"Romania will continue to support the expansion of cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO and the EU," he said.
NATO's energy security section head Michael Ruhle stressed the importance of cooperation in the fight against terrorism and cyber crime.
"Azerbaijan has a strong interest in cooperating with NATO in the fight against terrorism and cyber crime and ensuring security. Azerbaijan is making a great contribution to NATO and takes an active part in peacekeeping operations," Ruhle said.
Then the U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Richard Morningstar delivered a report on energy security. He focused on the changes in the global energy sector, the roles of countries in the energy security and other issues.