COOPERATION WITH NATO DOES NOT MEAN STOPPING OF COOPERATION WITH
ANOTHER STRUCTURE, ALLIANCE REPRESENTATIVE SAYS

YEREVAN, MARCH 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The NATO is interested in the issue of
cooperation with Armenia, and the sides have a great volume of work to
do together. George Katsirdakis, the head of the Defence Partnership
and Cooperation Directorate of the NATO Defence Planning and
Operations Devision stated about it at the March 15 meeting with
journalists. In his words, the International Partnership Actions Plan
(IPAP) of Armenia involves a great number of events a part of which
has already been implemented, and the others are in process what
proves that Armenia is as well interested in the cooperation with the
NATO.

G.Katsirdakis emphasized that the cooperation with the NATO does not
mean that cooperation with another structure will be stopped. He
mentioned that though the NATO relations with Russia are rather good
but disagreement exists in some issues. In his words, the NATO and
Russia cooperate in the anti-terrorism struggle, in the sphere of
resque works, exchange information, including intelligence data. Joint
military actions are also held, particularly, the NATO forces were
moved to Afghanistan by Russian transport.

"The NATO observes the three South Caucasian countries as one bloc,
only arising of the geographic veiwpoint. But we are very well aware
that the three states differ from each other, and interests of Armenia
do not coincide with interests of Azerbaijan or Georgia," the NATO
representative mentioned. In his words, it would be desirable if the
NATO was able to assist cooperation among those countries, what it may
not oblige them.

In G.Katsirdakis’ opinion, Georgia will hardly join the NATO till
2008. He mentioned that that country got a status of "intensive
dialogue" what does not mean yet that it will become an Alliance
member. There is a similar dialogue with Russia as well, the
administration of which recently stated that it is not ready for the
next stage of membership, membership actions.

G.Katsirdakis mentioned that the NATO may not oblige Turkey and
Armenia to establish bilateral relations. But, in his opinion, it is
appropriate from the viewpoint of regional stability that additional
efforts are made in that direction by both sides.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress