NATO CONCERNED OVER FLARING REGIONAL CONFLICTS, ITS OFFICIAL SAYS

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
April 12 2006

NATO is concerned over the conflicts flaring in the South Caucasus
region, the special representative of the alliance’s Secretary General
to South Caucasus and Central Asia, Robert Simmons, has said.

“These disputes are impeding cooperation among countries.”

With regard to NATO’s position on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper
(Nagorno) Garabagh conflict, Simmons said it coincides with that of
the OSCE, which is brokering settlement to the conflict. He said that
a given country may station its armed forces in another’s territory
only upon the latter’s consent. As an example, he referred to the fact
Russian troops are stationed in Armenia upon agreement with official
Yerevan, saying NATO is not interfering with this.

As for the stationing of NATO peacekeepers in the region, Simmons said
this is possible after lengthy discussions. On the other hand, this
would require a consent from both parties to the conflict, he said.

Simmons did not rule out that the alliance will be involved in some
large-scale regional energy projects, including measures to safeguard
the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export pipeline.

“Guarding the pipeline has not been vested in NATO’s military forces
thus far. Therefore, the alliance will for the time being confine to
conducting training and rendering technical assistance to relevant
institutions of the countries hosting the pipe [Azerbaijan, Georgia
and Turkey],” Simmons added.