Trend News interview with NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, Robert Simmons.
Question: What is your opinion on the activity of Azerbaijan with regards to Individual Partnership Action Plan?

Azerbaijan is an active and very valuable Partner of the Alliance. Azerbajiani troops stand side-by-side with those of NATO as part of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan and the Azerbaijani contingent in that force was recently increased. Azerbaijan is also engaged in wide-ranging cooperation with NATO and individual NATO countries to undertake a thorough reform of its defense and security sector institutions. This is a long-term effort which is conducted in the framework of the Individual Partnership Action Plan that you refer to, mr. Novruzov. Azerbaijan has been making good progress in many aspects of these reforms, but, of course, there still remains a lot of work to do. We want to continue to assist Azerbaijan in this process and we are working very closely with our Azerbaijani partners from the various ministries and agencies to assist them in the accomplishment of their reform goals.

Question: What is your estimation of the reforms in military forces of Azerbaijan? Do these reforms correspond to the NATO standards? Are these reforms necessary in the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan really?