ARMENIAN DEFENCE MINISTER, NATO CHIEF DISCUSS TIES

Arminfo
5 Apr 07

Yerevan, 5 April: NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
positively assesses Armenia’s fulfilment of the Individual Partnership
Action Plan with NATO, Scheffer said at his meeting with Armenian
acting Defence Minister Serzh Sargsyan held in Brussels on 4
April. Sargsyan is in Brussels with a working visit to attend a NATO
meeting in the format of Armenia-NATO 26+1.

According to Armenian Defence Ministry press service, Scheffer said
that he was informed about the political developments in Armenia and
hoped that regardless the position Sargsyan is to hold NATO-Armenian
relations will continue to develop.

NATO’s special representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia Robert
Simmons, who also attended the meeting, positively assessed Armenia’s
fulfilment of the plan. The parties discussed issues related to reforms
in the defence sector, the national security strategy, cooperation and
Armenia’s participation in peacekeeping missions. "I hope that positive
trends will continue, and we can expand cooperation," Simmons said.

"Certainly, an efficient army is the main guarantor of our security. In
addition to this, relations with NATO and our participation in the
CSTO [Collective Security Treaty Organization] make our security
system complete," Sargsyan said.

On the same day, Sargsyan met EU Commissioner for External Relations
and Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner, who welcomed Armenia’s
efforts in the new European Neighbourhood policy. The parties pointed
to the importance of holding forthcoming parliamentary election in
line with European standards.

Serzh Sargsyan was appointed prime minister by a presidential decree
on 4 April.