Azerbaijan close partner of NATO, says alliance's official UPDATE

NATO Assistant Secretary-General for Public Diplomacy Baiba Braže has described Azerbaijan as a close partner of the North Atlantic Alliance.

She made the remarks during her video speech at the high-ranking conference "Women for a Sustainable Future" at ADA University in Baku on November 22, APA reports.

“The history of our relations dates back to 1992. In 1994, Azerbaijan joined the NATO peacekeeping programme and was represented as part of the peacekeepers sent to Kosovo. There is mutual understanding between Azerbaijan and NATO, and both sides contribute to international security,” Braže said.

The NATO official stressed that they appreciate Azerbaijan's humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.

Addressing the event, head of the Azerbaijani mission to NATO Jafar Huseynzade has said that the nation has built strong cooperation with the Alliance in the field of peace and security, Report informs.

He noted the role of Azerbaijani peacekeepers within the NATO mission in Afghanistan.

The head of the mission said that NATO currently supports cooperation with Azerbaijan in two main spheres, namely, practical cooperation and political dialogue.

“We also pay attention to the women's participation in peace and security,” he added.

Huseynzade noted the importance of women’s involvement in peacebuilding at the post-conflict stage at all levels, especially in the restoration of the liberated territories and reintegration.

“Armenia's provocations have a negative effect on the peace process and the normalisation of relations with Azerbaijan,” he said.