Angus Reid Global Scan, Canada
July 7 2005

Armenians Divided on NATO Membership

(Angus Reid Global Scan) – Adults in Armenia are split on their
country’s eventual participation in an international defence
partnership, according to a poll by the Armenian Center for National
and International Studies. 34.7 per cent of respondents believe
Armenia should join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO),
while 33.9 per cent disagree.

NATO was originally formed in 1949 as an agreement of collaboration
designed to prevent a possible attack from the Soviet Union on North
America or Western Europe during the Cold War.

In March 2004, NATO added seven more nations, six of which were once
members of the Warsaw Pact – a military alliance of Eastern European
Soviet countries.

Supporters of NATO in Armenia cite the partnership as the most
effective arrangement to ensure security, and believe it should be a
priority for Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia to become members of a
common security system.

Conversely, Armenians who do not want to join NATO believe their
country should continue being a member of the Russia-supported
Collective Security Treaty Organization, and believe the relations
between Armenia and Turkey have not yet been resolved.

Polling Data

Do you think Armenia should become a member of NATO?

Yes
34.7%

No
33.9%

Difficult to answer
31.4%

“Yes” Respondents – Why do you think Armenia should join NATO?

NATO is the most effective system for ensuring security
43.3%

It is expedient for Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia
to be members of a common security system
33.9%

Armenia cannot become a member of the European
Union (EU) without becoming a member of NATO
17.8%

“No” Respondents – Why do you think Armenia should not join NATO?

Armenia should continue to be a member of
the Collective Security Treaty Organization
and to link its security with Russia
52.9%

Because the relations between Armenia and
NATO-member Turkey are not yet resolved
24.9%

Armenia is not expected at NATO, so
there is no need to think about it
21.4%

Source: Armenian Center for National and International Studies
(ACNIS)
Methodology: Interviews with 1,500 Armenian adults, conducted in June
2005. No margin of error was provided.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress