Azerbaijan\'s President Ilham Aliev told NATO on Wednesday that his oil- and gas-rich nation seeks closer ties with the Western alliance, saying the growing importance of energy supplies from the Caucasus region was bringing a \"new dimension\" to their relations. \"Today is probably the opening of a new stage in this relationship,\" Aliev said after talks at NATO headquarters. \"We think it\'s very important for our young country, but already a country with a growing potential, to be a true and reliable partner for NATO.\" A booming oil and gas industry have given the former-Soviet republic the world\'s fastest growing economy and many NATO members see it as key player in Europe\'s efforts to reduce energy dependence on imports from Russia and the Middle East.\"Azerbaijan is an important player and is becoming an even more important player in the whole discussion of oil and gas supply,\" said NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, adding that the allies had raised the security of energy supplies with Aliev. \"The geo-strategic aspects and the political aspects of energy security are important for NATO and we have used the opportunity to discuss this,\" he told reporters. NATO allies have mixed views on the alliance\'s role in protecting energy supplies. Some have pushed for NATO to consider a military role helping protect pipelines, oil platforms and sea routes bringing oil and gas to Europe and North America. France -- traditionally wary of extending the role of the trans-Atlantic alliance -- and others have been more reluctant to have NATO discuss taking on new energy security tasks. The French ambassador to NATO did not attend an informal meeting this week between the European Union\'s energy Commissioner Andris Pielbalgs and NATO envoys on energy security. Aliev suggested the energy reserves of his nation would have to feature in relations with NATO. \"The importance of the Caspian oil and gas reserves and the importance for energy security and in general for security in the region, of course this all brings a new dimension to our relations,\" he said. Stressing his attachment to relations with NATO, Aliev said Azerbaijan would contribute soldiers to the alliance-led missions in Kosovo and Afghanistan. It currently has about 20 soldiers involved in Afghanistan and 30 in Kosovo. (AP)