Armenian MP upbeat on future cooperation with NATO

Hayots Ashkharh, Yerevan
3 Dec 04

Armenian MP Mger Shakhgeldyan has said that the Armenian MPs’ failure
to attend a NATO-sponsored seminar in Baku will not affect the
country’s relations with the North Atlantic alliance. In his interview
with the Hayots Ashkharh newspaper, Shakhgeldyan said that Armenia
wants to develop even more the potential of its participation in this
organization. Touching on Azerbaijan’s statements that NATO should be
involved in the Karabakh conflict settlement, the Armenian MP said
such a development of events is impossible since the NATO
secretary-general recently said that the organization is not going to
engage in the settlement of the problem. The following is the text of
Vaan Vardanyan’s report by Armenian newspaper Hayots Ashkharh on 3
December headlined “NATO will not intervene”. Subheadings have been
inserted editorially:

Armenia wants to develop cooperation with NATO

It is known that the Armenian parliamentary delegation did not have
the opportunity to take part in the event initiated by the NATO
Parliamentary Assembly that took place in Baku. The chairman of the
defence, national security and interior affairs commission of the
National Assembly, Mger Shakhgeldyan, comments on the further
prospects of our delegation’s activity in NATO.

[Hayots Ashkharh correspondent] Will the fact that the Armenian
delegation did not take part in the Baku NATO seminar not create
problems in the sense of our future work in the NATO Parliamentary
Assembly?

[Mger Shakhgeldyan] I do not think there will be a problem, as we did
not take part because of the known situation. It was too late when we
received a reply on behalf of the secretary-general of the
Parliamentary Assembly connected with our worry. Technically, our
departure was already impossible and the seminar was coming to an
end. That was also the position of political forces.

Incidentally, it should be emphasized that we received no reply from
the Azerbaijani party. Moreover, during a meeting with the mass media,
the chairman of the Azerbaijani parliament said making no secret that
they were not interested in the Armenian delegation’s participation
and it is very good that the Armenian party did not come. In such a
situation, our departure was simply senseless.

Certainly, in the future we shall continue acting in the NATO
Parliamentary Assembly and we want to use more effectively and develop
even more the potential of our participation in that structure.

Azerbaijan has no privileged right of membership

[Correspondent] But the Azerbaijani party is spreading rumours that
their positions in the Assembly have become so strong that they want
to become a permanent member from an associated one. Is that possible?

[Shakhgeldyan] Anyway, there was no such problem connected with the
autumn session. I do not think that Azerbaijan will be given a
privilege in this matter in comparison with other countries of the
region. The abovementioned problem is connected with how much
Azerbaijan will develop on its way of integration into NATO. They
declare this from time to time, in this sense, there is a difference
between our and their positions in the Parliamentary Assembly. But
today we can preserve the balance.

[Correspondent] Does it mean that Azerbaijan may gain the status of a
permanent member only after becoming a competent member of the NATO
military and political structures?

[Shakhgeldyan] It is possible in an unofficial sense. Because from the
official point of view, the Parliamentary Assembly and NATO are
independent from each other. Stemming from a number of approaches, if
Azerbaijan declares that it is joining other structures of NATO, I do
not rule out that such an issue may arise in the Assembly.

[Correspondent] May Turkey’s support play a decisive role in this
matter?

[Shakhgeldyan] Certainly, Turkey greatly supports Azerbaijan. It is
also clear that Turkey is an old and one of the most important members
of NATO. But I would not say that its support can have a decisive
role. Discussions in the Assembly are free and on the whole, a
viewpoint is being formed regarding any country not only taking
account of its desires, but also many other problems. We are acting
towards the establishment of friendly relations, but Turkey’s support
for Azerbaijan is very big.

NATO’s involvement in Karabakh settlement impossible

[Correspondent] The Azerbaijani party has announced once again that
they think that the involvement of a NATO force in the process of the
regional and especially the Karabakh issue settlement is
expedient. May such initiatives be important in the sense of
strengthening Azerbaijan’s positions?

[Shakhgeldyan] NATO itself should make a decision to take part in this
process. I think at present, irrespective of Azerbaijan’s desires and
readiness, such a development of events is impossible. The NATO
secretary-general recently announced in Armenia that NATO is not going
to be involved in the settlement of the Karabakh issue.

Certainly, NATO is extending its presence in the South Caucasus, but
as they say, they are watching the Karabakh issue only within the
framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. Let us not forget that the role of
the USA in NATO is significant, and if the American co-chairman of the
Minsk Group says that they consider the continuation of the Minsk
Group’s activity to be important, so… [ellipsis as given]