Azerbaijani presidential aide meets NATO Liaison chief in Georgia

Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, Hikmet Hajiyev, held talks with the head of the NATO Liaison Office in Georgia, Alexander Vinnikov.

Official Facebook page of the Slovak Embassy in Azerbaijan issued a statement, Caliber.Az reports.

Earlier, Vinnikov noted that Azerbaijan’s cooperation with NATO has grown from limited officer participation to a broad and stable partnership. Speaking at ADA University, he highlighted the progress since Azerbaijan joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme in 1994.

"Last year, we celebrated the 30th anniversary of that event with a ceremony in Baku. It marked a turning point that launched a multifaceted cooperation," Vinnikov recalled.

He said the collaboration spans multiple areas, including defence planning, scientific research, and education: "Azerbaijan follows NATO's recommendations in building its defense structures, participates in peacekeeping missions, and is active in the Defence Education Enhancement Programme (DEEP), which supports the modernization of institutions such as the Armed Forces Military College and, more recently, the Higher Military School."

Vinnikov also commended Azerbaijan’s contributions to humanitarian operations, including firefighting support during natural disasters. "The country helps eliminate the consequences of natural disasters by providing firefighting aircraft and helicopters to allies and partners."

He further praised Azerbaijan’s involvement in NATO’s Science for Peace and Security programme, particularly in cybersecurity and counterterrorism, and underlined cooperation with the country’s Mine Action Agency (ANAMA): "For many years, this partnership has supported the disposal of unexploded ordnance and the removal of leftover Soviet-era rocket fuel."

By Aghakazim Guliyev