Cooperation with NATO “key component” of Armenian national security

Azg, Yerevan
11 Nov 04

NATO membership is not on Armenia’s agenda at present, although
cooperation with the alliance remains a key component of national
security, Samvel Lazarian, Armenia’s ambassador to NATO, has said. He
told Armenian newspaper Azg that Armenia is planning to complete a
draft of its Individual Partnership Action Plan with NATO by the end
of the year. He said that Armenia and NATO at present cooperate on
monitoring emergencies, researching river pollution and the Virtual
Silk Road project, which will improve Internet access for Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Georgia. The following is the text of Tatul Akopyan’s
interview with Samvel Lazarian in Azg on 11 November headlined
“Our cooperation with NATO a key component of national security”;
subheadings inserted editorially:

An interview with the Armenian ambassador to NATO, Samvel Lazarian.

After his meeting with President Robert Kocharyan NATO
Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer referred to Armenia-NATO
cooperation within an Individual Partnership Action Plan [IPAP]. What
kind of plan is this? And how far have Yerevan-Brussels relations
gone? The Armenian ambassador to NATO, Samvel Lazarian, answers
these questions in an interview to Azg daily.

Armenian to complete IPAP draft by end of year

[Azg correspondent] Cooperation with international structures generally
starts with applying what is called the “blanket approach” principle,
when an institution carries out a similar policy for all the states of
a region. At a certain stage of cooperation the institution needs to
specify the framework and content of cooperation. Certainly, not all
countries agree on the terms and demands of some programmes. And NATO
has collaborated on a new programme for cooperation and partnership,
which is called an Individual Partnership Action Plan. Now every state
engaged in the Partnership for Peace initiative within the framework of
an IPAP may put forward its suggestions. That means that a state sets
its priorities, evaluates its abilities and in accordance with them
creates its own work programme. If the opposite party approves the
programme, it may be put into action. We are thinking of preparing a
draft of our programme by the end of this year and presenting it to
NATO, after which it will be approved and implemented.

NATO membership still not on agenda

[Correspondent] Mr Lazarian, Armenia’s accession to NATO is
viewed as very probable in the near future, especially after the
secretary-general’s visit. Is it possible that Armenia will some
day declare, like neighbouring Azerbaijan and Georgia, its desire to
join NATO?

[Lazarian] In our political statements we have always been clear
and realistic, as opposed to others, and now we declare that NATO
membership is not on our political agenda now. We are keeping
to the chosen line in developing our relations with NATO. How
far our relations will go – that is another issue. But we do not
yet consider NATO membership a priority, because we are realistic
about the geopolitical issues facing our region. We also take into
consideration our readiness and the organization’s willingness to see
us as a member. Today NATO too is not longing for Armenia’s membership.

[Correspondent] Do you mean Armenia is not meeting NATO’s standards
today? Is that the reason why Armenia does not talk about joining NATO?

[Lazarian] No, that is not what I mean. It is a very subtle issue. Our
cooperation with NATO is a key component of national security, but here
we also have Russia and the Collective Security Treaty supporting us,
as well as individual states such as the USA with which we cooperate
in the defence sphere.

Armenia and NATO cooperating on emergencies, science, research

[Correspondent] As an ambassador you are going to represent Armenia’s
interests in Brussels. What aims does Armenia pursue in NATO?

[Lazarian] NATO is a multifaceted organization. Today Armenia and NATO
cooperate in monitoring extreme situations. We are also developing
our relations in the sphere of science. NATO is implementing two
very important projects in our region. The first is researching
rivers of the region and Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia will watch
that the rivers are not polluted. The second is the Virtual Silk
Road project through which the three states will gain access to the
Internet. Another primary issue is to secure the region’s security
with the help of NATO. The organization itself talks about this
function and it becomes a precondition for future development and
prosperity. The development and deepening of our cooperation will
largely depend on the success of the IPAP.

[Correspondent] Senior NATO officials have been speaking well of
Armenia lately. What is the reason for NATO’s optimism?

[Lazarian] NATO representatives assess Armenia’s abilities and
accuracy very highly. To be honest, NATO is interested in developing
relations with us, as our cooperation is rather loose. Certainly,
there are limits to our abilities, stemming from the general situation
in the region, including the unresolved Karabakh conflict, that holds
us back from taking further steps. But our cooperation within the
frameworks possible is efficient and that attracts both us and NATO.