COOPERATION WITH NATO CONSTITUENT OF ARMENIA SECURITY

Pan Armenian News
02.06.2005 04:53

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Secretary of the National Security Council at
the Armenian President, Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan met with
US Senator Norm Coleman, reported Defense Ministry Press Secretary,
colonel Seyran Shahsuvaryan. In the course of the meeting S. Sargsyan
remarked that the US-Armenia relations develop pretty rapidly. Within
the context of military cooperation he noted that it started three
years ago and documents that form favorable conditions for promotion
of the relations were signed within that period. “I am sure that the
final returns of the assessment of the Armed Forces of Armenia will be
satisfying, as oral opinions are rather positive,” the Minister said.
Touching upon Armenia-NATO cooperation, he accentuated that the volume
of cooperation with the NATO has increased several times. Adding
that Armenia’s foreign policy agenda does not include accession to
the NATO, he said Armenia considers cooperation with the NATO and
the US a national security constituent. At the same time Armenia
develops cooperation with European countries, NATO member and
non-member states, has military cooperation with Russia and CSTO
countries. “The most important thing is that we have no differences
in this respect,” the Minister stated. In his turn N. Coleman noted,
“I know the level of the Armed Forces of Armenia is rather high and
we establish close ties both in the defense and other spheres.” In
his words, he had conversations with defense evaluation specialists,
who held a positive opinion of the Armenian Armed Forces. “I have
come intending to get to know what exactly is necessary for further
development of the US-Armenian relations,” Coleman said.