Nato az indd

124
www.aliyevheritage.org
AZERBAIJ AN – NATO: ROAD BEGINNING FROM PARTNERSHIP
The Declaration adopted by the North Atlantic Council in January 1994 
refl ected NATO`s concern over the situation in the Southern Caucasus. That 
Declaration condemned the use of force for the annexation of territories and 
encouraged respect to the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty 
of the Southern Caucasian countries as an important element for the establish-
ment peace, stability and cooperation in the region. 
In the years the offi
  cial documents of the organization declared the recogni-
tion of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaij an by NATO. 
NATO and Azerbaij an actively cooperate on democratic, institutional and 
defence reforms, and have developed practical cooperation in many other ar-
eas. Azerbaij an’s Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) lays out the pro-
gramme for cooperation between Azerbaij an and NATO. 
In order to expand cooperation with partner countries, Individual Partner-
ship Action Plan (IPAP) was adopted at Prague summit of the NATO Euro-At-
lantic Partnership Council in 2002. In May 2003, Azerbaij an offi
  cially applied to 
join IPAP. Azerbaij an’s IPAP Presentation Document, which includes informa-
tion on the political, economic and security development of Azerbaij an, was 
submitt ed to the Alliance during the visit of the President of the Republic of 
Azerbaij an Ilham Aliyev to the NATO headquarters. 
Key areas of cooperation include the improvement of democratic control of 
the armed forces, defence planning and budgeting and the reorganization of 
the armed forces structure using NATO standards.
Beyond supporting the reforms, another key objective of NATO’s coopera-
tion with Azerbaij an is to develop the ability of the country’s forces to work 
together with forces from NATO countries in peacekeeping and crisis-man-
agement operations. Forces from Azerbaij an were part of NATO peacekeeping 
operations in Kosovo from 1999 to 2008. Azerbaij an has actively supported 
ISAF operations in Afghanistan since 2002, where it has gradually increased its 
forces to about 45 personnel and is currently preparing to double its contingent 
to about 90 personnel. As President of the Republic of Azerbaij an Ilham Aliyev 
stated at the joint press conference with the NATO Secretary-General Jaap de 
Hoop Scheff er on November 8, 2006, “It is of great importance for our young 
country, which is increasing its potential to be a reliable partner for NATO”. 
Azerbaij an and NATO are working together on increasing air and maritime 
security in Azerbaij an’s airspace and the Caspian Sea. 

---

125
www.aliyevheritage.org
AZERBAIJ AN – NATO: ROAD BEGINNING FROM PARTNERSHIP
In general, the cooperation between Azerbaij an and NATO covers a lot of is-
sues, not only military issues. 
Since joining NATO`s Partnership for Peace in 1994, Azerbaij an has con-
fi rmed itself as a reliable partner. 
We can certainly say that the book “Azerbaij an-NATO: the road beginning 
from partnership” published by Heydar Aliyev's Heritage Research Center 
will become an important source for researchers, political scientists, students, 
as well as for everyone interested in Azerbaij an`s integration into the world 
community. 
Asaf Nadirov,
Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaij an

---

126
www.aliyevheritage.org
Distinguished Mr. Deputy Secretary-General, distinguished members of 
NATO Council, distinguished ambassadors, ladies and gentlemen! 
I am grateful to you for the warm reception of me and the Azerbaij ani del-
egation. I am glad that I have an opportunity to be among you today, and I 
consider it as an important event for the Republic of Azerbaij an. Thank you 
very much for the warm congratulations and kind wishes in the address of the 
Republic of Azerbaij an. The Azerbaij an people, having passed a long historical 
way of the development through numerous diffi
    culties and obstacles, achieved 
its national independence in 1991. The independent Azerbaij ani state was born 
and is a member of the United Nations Organization, CSCE and many other 
international organizations. And I feel great pride that today the Azerbaij ani 
delegation is present at the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organi-
zation. 
The Republic of Azerbaij an follows the road of strengthening the indepen-
dence. In its internal policy, it follows the way of construction of a democratic 
legal state, using the democratic values achieved by the mankind, creates con-
ditions for the freedom of personality and protection of human rights, multi-
party system and political pluralism. The republic has fi rmly follows the way 
of realization of economic reforms and establishment of market economy, free 
business and free initiative in the fi eld of economy. We consider that all this is 
good base for the close integration of Azerbaij an into the world community. 
The Republic of Azerbaij an in its foreign policy is for building mutual rela-
tions, admit the principle of interdependence of the world as a basis, conducts 
a peace-loving policy and aspires to establish friendly relations with all the 
countries on the principles of sovereignty, non-interference in each other’s in-
ternal aff airs, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders. 
The Republic of Azerbaij an now experiences a heavy economic crisis. It is 
related, on one hand, with the disintegration of the Soviet Union, in the struc-
ture of which Azerbaij an has been within 70 years, infringement of close inte-
gration communications with all other republics of the Soviet Union, transi-
tion from one economic system to another. On the other hand, this economic 
crisis deepens in connection with war which the neighboring Armenia wages 
against Azerbaij an. But all these diffi
  culties, we think, are surmountable, con-
sidering that Azerbaij an has chosen the way of independent development. In-
Speech of the Azerbaij ani President Heydar Aliyev 
at the meeting of NATO in Brussels
May 4, 1994 
AZERBAIJ AN – NATO: ROAD BEGINNING FROM PARTNERSHIP

---