ROBERT SIMMONS: “NATO DOESN’T OBJECT TO RUSSIAN BASE IN ARMENIA”

Today, Azerbaijan
May 23 2006

NATO has nothing against the Armenian wish to have a Russian military
base on its territory, special representative for the South Caucasus
and Central Asia Robert Simmons said on Tuesday.

He is finalizing a two-day visit to Armenia, Itar-Tass reports.

NATO does not insist on the Armenian affiliation, as well as limited
contacts with other states, he said. The alliance and Yerevan develop
cooperation on the basis of political and economic reforms, which do
not contradict Armenia’s relations with other countries, he said.

NATO wishes to have good relations with all partners, including
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) members, he said.

Six months have passed since the adoption of the Armenia-NATO
individual partnership plan, and an intermediate report on the plan
fulfillment will be made at the Brussels meeting of the Armenia-NATO
Council on June 14, Simmons said. A final report will be drafted in
a year, he added.

A NATO information center will open in Yerevan in accordance with
the Armenian government’s pledge, he said.

As for Karabakh settlement negotiations, Simmons said that NATO is
not taking part in the dialog but hopes that the conflicting parties –
Armenia and Azerbaijan – will find a mutually acceptable solution.

Simmons said they support the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group for
Nagorno Karabakh. It is important for the sides to reach an agreement,
and then decide which peacekeepers to invite, he said.

NATO is not going to send peacekeepers to the Karabakh conflict zone,
he remarked.

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