NATO officials, Armenian delegation discuss partnership plan

Arminfo
13 Jul 05

YEREVAN

The military-political coordinating council and political council of
NATO held a joint meeting with an official Armenian delegation at the
NATO headquarters on 12 July.

The sitting was convened at the initiative of NATO for additional
discussions concerning the action plan within the framework of
Armenia’s Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) with NATO, the
Armenian Foreign Ministry press service has told Arminfo new agency.

The sitting was presided over by the special representative of the
NATO secretary-general in the South Caucasus and Central Asia, Robert
Simmons.

The Armenian delegation included Deputy Foreign Minister Arman
Kirakosyan, Deputy Defence Minister Lt-Gen Artur Agabekyan, the head
of the Armenian mission in NATO, Samvel Lazarian, and military
representative David Tonoyan.

Kirakosyan and Agabekyan clarified the political aims of IPAP, as well
as reforms in the sphere of defence. Representatives of NATO
positively evaluated the document drawn up by the Armenian side, asked
the Armenian delegation several questions and heard out their
comments.

Before the sitting, the Armenian delegation met NATO Assistant
Secretary-General for Defence Policy and Planning John Colston and
Robert Simmons. The IPAP document was first discussed at a NATO
sitting on 16 June 2005 with Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
in attendance.