ARMENIA FORMS NATIONAL SECURITY SYSTEM AS CSTO MEMBER

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Dec 5 2006

YEREVAN, December 4. /ARKA/. Armenia is a member of the Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and forms its national security
system within the CSTO, RA Prime-Minister Andranik Margaryan stated
in his interview to the "Komersant" newspaper.

He pointed out that Armenia considers the relations with NATO an
important component of its policy of European integration.

"Interests of regional security imply cooperation with NATO, and
Armenia will continue implementing joint projects. We intend to
radically improve our cooperation with NATO," Margaryan said.

According to him, Armenia consistently supports the development of
regional cooperation under the "Partnership for peace" program and
NATO’s related steps.

The Individual Partnership Program has played the key role in the
NATO-Armenia relations since 2004. The Program covers all possible
cooperation spheres and is an effective mechanism for further
development of the cooperation, Margaryan said.

As to the possibility of NATO establishing a foothold in the South
Caucasus, Margaryan pointed out that it is up to any sovereign state
to join an international organization. "In the context, we understand
Georgia’s desire to join NATO. It is important to prevent the formation
of new dividing lines in our restless region with quite a number of
unsettled problems," Margaryan said.