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â€œNATO+Azerbaijanâ€ meeting ends in Brussels

17 September 2008 13:02 (UTC +04:00)

Spokesman for Foreign Ministry Khazar Ibrahim told APA that the meeting had been held within the framework of North Atlantic Council with participation of the delegation headed by Foreign Minister. The delegation included high-ranking officials of Defense Ministry, National Security Ministry, State Border Service, Ministry of Emergency Situations, Interior Troops of Interior Ministry.

Addressing the meeting Elmar Mammadyarov briefed the participants about the level of the implementation of IPAP and achievements in this field. The minister also touched on the process of settlement of Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict and underlined that the conflict could only be solved within the framework of Azerbaijanâ€™s territorial integrity. Following this, members of the delegation answered the questions of NATO ambassadors.

Ambassadors of NATO member states said they unambiguously supported Azerbaijanâ€™s territorial integrity. A number of officials underlined that Azerbaijan was a strategic sate and said they were interested in improving the relations.

The foreign minister has also held bilateral meeting with the NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and discussed with him further development of the bilateral cooperation, IPAP implementation, the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, general situation of the regional security and other issues of mutual interests.

Elmar Mammadyarov has also met in Brussels with the European Commissioner for Foreign relations and European Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner. They have discussed implementation of EU-Azerbaijan Action Plan within the framework of European Neighborhood Policy, current EU-Azerbaijan Relations, energy security and other issues.

Speaking about the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, Elmar Mammadyarov said its solution was possible only within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Mrs. Ferrero-Waldner noted that the European Union synonymously supported the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

Elmar Mammadyarov raised the issue of simplification of visa regime for Azerbaijani citizens at the meeting and EU official positively met this issue and promised to value this proposal.