Armenian defence minister, NATO envoy discuss deepening relations

Mediamax news agency
24 Feb 05

YEREVAN

The secretary of the National Security Council of the Armenian
president and defence minister, Serzh Sarkisyan, said in Yerevan today
that “if it was not for the unsettled conflict, Armenia would have the
possibility of wider involvement in different NATO programmes”.

Sarkisyan said this at a meeting with the special representative of
the NATO secretary-general in the South Caucasus and Central Asia,
Robert Simmons, the press secretary of the Armenian Defence Ministry,
Seyran Shakhsuvaryan, told Mediamax news agency today.

“I want to stress that we intend to follow the path we have chosen and
will consistently deepen our relations,” Sarkisyan said.

Speaking about the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, Simmons pointed out
that it is an obstacle standing in the way of the development of the
region’s countries.

“I think that a mutually acceptable solution will be found. NATO is
not directly involved in the settlement process, however, it is
closely following all the developments,” the special representative of
the NATO secretary-general said.