Any possibility of NATO deploying its military bases in Azerbaijan is ruled out, Rauf Rajabov, Editor-in-Chief, 3rd View information & analytics agency, stated during an on-line conference.

The Constitution of Azerbaijan does not allow the deployment of foreign military bases in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is not a NATO member, and issues like that cannot be considered, the expert said.

As to the fact that some of the regional countries, particularly Georgia and Azerbaijan, are seeking NATO membership, while Armenia is a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Rajabov pointed out two scenarios of forming the regional security system: either all the South Caucasus countries remain completely neutral, like Switzerland, or all of them join one of the politico-military bloc, NATO, for example. At present neither can be observed in the South Caucasus. "I think that the three countries` political elites must, as soon as possible, determine the threats and challenges they have to meet jointly. It is the only answer to the question as to what kind of security system the region needs - the answer not difficult to find though. The South Caucasus states can only join the politico-military bloc that holds onto the values of democracy, freedom and human rights and is not torn by internal strife or intrigues, the expert said.

As regards Azerbaijani-Turkish politico-military relations, the two nations are strategic partners. "Also Turkey and Azerbaijan settle their political and military issues under a strategic agreement signed last year. However, the deployment of a Turkish military base in Azerbaijan is not an end in itself in the agreement. Azerbaijan and Turkey have no common border along the Nakhichevan autonomous region. So there is not need for that," the expert said.