Azerbaijani FM invited to ISAF meeting

Azerbaijan, Baku, April 16 / Trend S. Agayeva / Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has been invited to a meeting of foreign ministers of the countries contributing to International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), to be held in Brussels April 19, spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Elman Abdullayev told Trend on Monday. International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is the NATO-led international military contingent. It has been operating in Afghanistan since 2001. The prospects for implementing ISAF programs are planned to be discussed at the meeting. A meeting of foreign ministers and defense ministers of NATO countries will be held at the NATO headquarters on April 18-19. NATO and Azerbaijan are actively cooperating in the field of democratic, institutional and military reforms, as well as conducting practical cooperation in many areas. The programme of cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO is set out in the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan seeks to achieve the Euro-Atlantic norms and standards and move closer to Euro-Atlantic institutions. In this regard, support for security sector reform and creation of the institution of democracy are the key elements of cooperation between NATO and Azerbaijan. Besides the reforms, another important area of cooperation is its support to Azerbaijan in the conduct of NATO-led operations. Currently, Azerbaijan sent peacekeepers to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. In the past, the country has also actively supported operations in Kosovo. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az