WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF DEEPENING OF NATO-ARMENIA COOPERATION

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
March 14 2007

On March 13 Mr. Tigran Torosyan, the President of the National Assembly
of the Republic of Armenia received the delegation headed by Mr. Jean
Fournet, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy.

During the meeting the issues regarding the cooperation, and
particularly the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) were
discussed. Mr. Tigran Torosyan mentioned that the visit of Mr.

Fournet coincided with the interesting for Armenia period: after the
constitutional amendments and before the parliamentary elections. The
IPAP was highlighted in the context of further deepening and
development of relations with NATO: a document, which takes out the
cooperation from mere military or security frames. Mr. Torosyan
noted that a number of political issues (related to democracy,
human rights) mentioned in the first paragraph of IPAP make mutual
relations broader, more effective and complete. The NA President
touched upon the constitutional reforms, which became a ground
for having a Basic Law in compliance with the European standards,
evaluated by the European authoritative organizations(starting from
January 2006 the administrative detention is eliminated, starting from
July 1 the citizens and the NA minorities, and Human Rights Defender
as well obtained the opportunity to apply to the Constitutional Court,
there were changes in the system of local self-government, after the
adoption of the law on the City of Yerevan the position of the Mayor
of the city will be elective, the judicial system became independent
from the executive power after making amendments in the system, a new
Judicial Code was adopted). Mr. Torosyan noted that the Electoral Code
had been significantly improved and expressed hope that the upcoming
parliamentary elections would have new quality level. Already after
the elections the constitutional provisions related to the political
system will come into force: the deeds mentioned in the first paragraph
of IPAP are mainly fulfilled, and in one year it will be possible to
report that they are fully completed, which will give opportunity to
go ahead in cooperation with NATO, which is an important component
in the national security system of Armenia.

Mr. Fournet, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy,
expressed satisfaction with the meetings in Armenia, and noted that
before his visit, getting familiarized with the documents, he was
sure that during these months there were real achievements in Armenia,
and it is evident that Armenia is on the right way. Mr. Fournet also
touched upon other chapters of the IPAP as a responsible person of
public diplomacy establishment, highlighting the deepening of relations
of public diplomacy, science and culture. He noted that he had had
meetings in the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and has a task to
develop the Science for the Sake of Peace program, which will promote
the establishment of scientific, cultural dialog making countries and
people closer. There are expertise centers functioning in the NATO
member-countries, aiming at studying cultures of other countries and
setting up cultural relations by bridging different countries through
cultures. He highlighted the parliamentary cooperation: the creation
of opportunity for the contacts of the representatives of different
countries and getting familiarized with each others’ views, noting
that invitations will be sent to the National Assembly too.

Expressing confidence that the cooperation with NAS and other
structures will be successful, Mr. Torosyan noted that the National
Assembly will be involved as well by deepening the relations between
NATO-National Assembly, which are the important part of the cooperation
between the Republic of Armenia and NATO.

During the meeting other issues were discussed as well.