NATO ADMINISTRATION SATISFIED WITH ARMENIA’S STEPS UNDER IPAP

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 16 2006

YEREVAN, October 16. /ARKA/. The NATO administration is satisfied
with Armenia’s steps under the Individual Partnership Plan (IPAP),
stated Special Representative of the NATO Secretary General to the
South Caucasus and Central Asia Robert Simmons.

He stated that this cooperation will be based on official documents
in the future.

Simmons pointed out that NATO attaches high importance to the
development of cooperation with Armenia and stressed that NATO is
ready to render any possible assistance to the country, particularly
in reforming its armed forces.

In his turn, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan pointed out
that IPAP and EU Neighborhood program are complementary ones.

Simmons also reported that NATO attaches high importance to free and
democratic elections in Armenia. He stressed that it will closely
watch the parliamentary and presidential elections in the country in
2007 and 2008.

The Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) was signed in
December 2005. Armenia’s involvement in the program implies regular
consultations on regional security with NATO, elaboration of a security
strategy and of Armenia’s military doctrine, improvement of defense
and budget planning.