Interfax
Nov. 5, 2004

NATO secretary general to discuss cooperation prospects with Armenia

Yerevan. (Interfax-AVN) – NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
will discuss prospects of bilateral cooperation of the Alliance and
Armenia during his visit in Yerevan scheduled for Friday.

Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy Jean Fournet told
reporters in Yerevan that the secretary general would like to discuss
issues pertaining to more active involvement of Armenia in NATO’s
Partnership for Peace program.

He said that it is often required to meet the leader of the country at
home to feel and understand the country proper and the position of its
leader.

He recalled that NATO included the South Caucasus into the sphere of
its strategic interests, and added that the Alliance has enjoyed rapid
development of the relations with countries in the region.

As of now, he said, NATO offers its partners to develop an own plan of
individual cooperation with the Alliance to make it possible for them
to cooperate with the organization to the extent they want.

He added that a liaison officer in the South Caucasus is expected to be
appointed soon.

The NATO secretary general already appointed a NATO representative in
the South Caucasus.

Armenian leadership has repeatedly been saying that the country is
looking forward to deeper cooperation with the Alliance. According to
Yerevan, such cooperation will in no way affect the Russian-Armenian
military and strategic partnership.