ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS NATO SECRETARY GENERAL
arminfo
2007-09-05 15:29:00
ArmInfo. Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan met NATO Secretary
General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in Brussels, Tuesday. The sides met
within the framework of the European New Neighborhood Policy Conference
and the Foreign Ministers Meeting.
Armenian Foreign Ministry press-service told ArmInfo that at the
beginning of the meeting Vardan Oskanyan pointed out the importance
of fulfilling the points of Individual Partnership Action Plan, in
particular, elaborating a national security strategy, opening NATO
Information Center in Yerevan, establishing a crisis management center,
as well as making legislative initiatives on reforms in the defense
sphere. The minister appreciated the assistance of NATO member-states
in the implementation of the Individual Partnership Action Plan
with NATO. In particular, he mentioned the consultative assistance
and welcomed NATO decision to appoint a new coordinator. The sides
touched upon the organization of NATO-Armenia political consultations
(26+1 format). In this context, the foreign minister stressed the
importance of conducting consultations with the Alliance on security
and foreign policy affairs. The sides also discussed Armenia’s
participation in NATO peacemaking activity. NATO Secretary General
assessed the cooperation of NATO and the South Caucasian states,
introducing the results of NATO Summit to be held in April 2008
in Bucharest. The parties discussed issues concerning Kosovo and
Afghanistan and regional processes. At the request of NATO Secretary
General, Vardan Oskanyan touched upon the Karabakh negotiations.