Minister says Armenia to cooperate with NATO without detriment to Russian ties

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
6 Ap

Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan today received a
delegation led by Lithuanian National Defence Minister Gediminas
Kirkilas. The prime minister noted that Defence Minister Kirkilas
started his official visit to the region from Armenia and stressed
the importance of cooperation with Armenia, which has rich ancient
history and culture both in the military and other spheres.

The sides stressed the importance of boosting cooperation in the
South Caucasus region and ensuring security and peace in the region.

The sides also talked about Armenian-Turkish relations.

The Lithuanian minister today visited the Armenian genocide memorial
to pay tribute to the genocide victims and laid flowers at the
memorial. The Lithuanian minister said in Tsitsernakaberd that
although his country has not yet recognized the Armenian genocide,
being a politician, he condemns this crime and hopes that such crimes
will never be committed in the European Union.

At a joint press conference with Armenian Defence Minister Serzh
Sarkisyan on the same day, Lithuanian National Defence Minister
Gediminas Kirkilas told journalists that Lithuania would continue to
render assistance to the South Caucasus countries in their accession
to the European Union and talked about his country’s achievements
after it became a NATO member in 2004.

Kirkilas said that his country was ready to take part in peacekeeping
operations together with Armenia, which can enhance our country’s
international image.

[Kirkilas speaking in Russian with Armenian voice-over] I think that
our relations with Armenia are developing quite well. We signed an
agreement today which will ensure its continuity. Lithuania, being
a NATO member, welcomes Armenia’s attempts to develop relations with
NATO and the EU countries. I believe that participation in different
peacekeeping operations is the right decision for your country.

[Sarkisyan] We will undoubtedly develop our relations with NATO,
but this will not be at the expense of our cooperation with the
Collective Security Treaty Organization countries. We will develop our
relations with the EU countries and the USA, but not to the detriment
of Armenian-Russian relations.