BAKU. Feb 9 (Interfax-Azerbaijan) - Azerbaijan intends to continue developing its relations with NATO, said Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov.
"The partnership institution has not exhausted itself, and we believe it has new prospects," Azimov said at a news briefing on Tuesday.
"Azerbaijan will continue to expand this cooperation both at the political dialogue level and in practical terms," he said.
Azimov said he expects NATO to endorse the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) with Azerbaijan in the near future, which will step up the development of bilateral cooperation and make it more efficient.
Robert Simmons, NATO secretary general's special representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, said at the same news briefing that Baku and Brussels are facing the task of developing cooperation under the IPAP, which would make it easier for Azerbaijan to join NATO, but it is up to the Azerbaijani government itself to make a decision on accession to the alliance.
The IPAP, in particular, envisions rendering technical assistance to Azerbaijan in planning its military budget and training Azerbaijani servicemen to provide better security of the pipelines running through the country.