AZG Armenian Daily #115, 23/06/2005

Armenia-NATO

‘IF ARMENIA STANDS AGAINST THE PRESENCE OF RUSSIAN FORCES IN THE COUNTRY,
NATO WILL SUPPORT YEREVAN’

Robert Simmons Does Not Consider Russian Factor an Obstacle for Armenia-NATO
Relations

The special representative of NATO Secretary General in South Caucasus and
Central Asia, Robert Simmons, says that in case Armenian government rejects
to see Russian military presence in the country then NATO will support
Yerevan.

At the meeting with Armenian, Georgian and Azeri journalists at the NATO
headquarters, Simons gave positive evaluation to the last Russian-Georgian
talks as result of which Russia agreed to remove its military bases from
Georgia by the time fixed in Istanbul in 1999.

Brussels welcomes the withdrawal of Russian forces from Georgia. But Russia
maintains its military presence in Armenia and still plans to move part of
the military equipment from Georgia to Armenia. Simmons says that it does
not contradict European agreements on ordinary weapons but on the other
hand, it is not desirable to see the arms in Armenia, as they will result in
complication [once Armenia decides to remove them too].

Asked whether Russia’s military presence in Armenia stymies further
development of Yerevan-NATO relations, Simmons said that it’s no obstacle
for NATO, especially in this case when Armenia gave its consent to Russian
bases. NATO, he says, does not build its relations with partner states on
rivalry and does not consider Russia a rival country in the South Caucasus.

In his brief speech titled “The road to NATO membership”, Simmons said that
Georgia has left Armenia and Azerbaijan behind in fostering relations with
NATO. Only Tbilisi in the South Caucasus has spoke out for joining the NATO.
But it’s not realistic that Georgia will become NATO member in foreseeable
future, he said.

“Macedonia, Albania and Croatia are in the process of membership. Ukraine
has intensified and Georgia is intensifying membership process”, he said. A
state bidding for NATO has to match the criteria of the Treaty in the
spheres of defense, home politics, economy and other. Simmons added that the
doors of NATO are open to all states but today’s immediate candidates are
Albania, Macedonia and Croatia.

On June 10, Armenian defense minister handed the draft of Armenia’s
Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) to NATO secretary general. On June
16, Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanian submitted the document to NATO
Council for ratification. Official Yerevan sees this as a decisive stage in
Armenian’s integration into Europe.

The IPAP was launched in Prague Summit of NATO in 2002. It is available for
all states that have political will and are able to deepen relations with
NATO. Countries involved in the Plan choose the forms of cooperation based
on their goals and possibilities that are written in a representational
document.

Neighboring Georgia and Azerbaijan presented the IPAP document to NATO
secretary general in 2004. In November of that year Tbilisi and Brussels
elaborated the IPAP, Baku and Brussels did so in May.

Armenian Interdepartmental Commission chaired by defense and foreign
ministers elaborated the IPAP document. The document outlines official
Yerevan’s goals directed to fostering Armenia-NATO relations as well as the
mechanisms of productive cooperation in the spheres of security and defense.
As soon as NATO confirms the document, a program for implementation of the
items of the document will be worked out.

To daily Azg’s question if “we can consider the IPAP if not a promise for
NATO membership then a prospect”, Robert Simmons said, “The IPAP is not a
document enabling accession to NATO and does not mean a process of
membership”.

NATO does not see itself as a mediator in Nagorno Karabakh issue. “We
absolutely support the OSCE and does not want to imitate Minsk group”,
Simmons said. He pointed out that in case the sides offer NATO to get more
actively involved in the conflict resolution, then “we’ll discuss it”. NATO
shows no partiality and stands for peaceful settlement, Simmons concluded.

By Tatoul Hakobian in Brussels

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress