NATO does not intend to get involved in Karabakh conflict
The Messenger, Georgia
Feb 11 2005
According to the Azeri newspaper Novoye Vremia, NATO Deputy Assistant
Secretary General Patrick Hardouin stated at a press conference
this week that NATO is interested in the stability and security of
the South Caucasus. He spoke during a NATO two-day seminar in Baku
“Security of the South Caucasus and NATO’s role.”
According to him, stability in the region must be based on economic
growth, macroeconomic stability and democracy. “Despite certain
achievements in this sphere, lots of unsolved issues remain in the
region,” stated Hardouin, noting that such issues as the development of
free trade and macroeconomic stability were discussed at the seminar
as well.
They also discussed the issue of energy security, particularly the
issue of the security of the oil pipeline Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan. The
paper reports that NATO is interested in the secure operation of the
transport corridors in the South Caucasus.
Hardouin stressed that the conflicts in the South Caucasus negatively
influence on the stability and security in the region. “NATO does
not intend to be engaged in these conflicts, he said, adding however
that Brussels “is ready to support all attempts to achieve a fair
settlement of these conflicts.”
According to Hardouin, NATO follows the consensus principle when
making decisions regarding joint operations. The paper notes that
NATO supports the termination of nuclear programs in Iran.
Hardouin also told journalists that the opening of the office for
the special representative of the NATO General Secretary in South
Caucasus and Central Asia will take place in Tbilisi. He said that
the special representative will work in Tbilisi and will periodically
visit the region’s countries.