NATO SUMMIT AND ARMENIA
Gevorg Harutyunyan
Hayots Ashkhar Daily
April 01, 2008
Armenian official delegation headed by the President elect Serge
Sargsyan, is going to participate in regular NATO Summit, in Bucharest
on April 2-4.
Chair of the Committee on Defense, National Security, and Internal
Affairs Arthur Aghabekyan introduces the prospects of the cooperation
between Armenia and Euro-Atlantic Military Political Union in his
interview with the correspondent of "Hayots Ashkharh" daily.
"Mr. Aghabekyan what agenda issues is going to be discussed in the
NATO Summit in Bucharest and with what expectations will Armenian
side participate in the military political gathering of more than
sixty countries?"
"The peculiarity of NATO Bucharest Summit will be the participation
of the countries which have great desire to become members of this
military political structure. Many of these states however, will
unavoidably appear in the focus of the collapse of the interests
of NATO member countries. And they will have to overcome lots of
obstacles to make their desires come true.
Armenia is going to participate in NATO Summit as a partner. The
foundation of our cooperation format is the general program
"Partnership for Peace". With the years’ effective partnership we
have recorded essential progress, we jointly implement the program
"Individual Partnership Action", which can be considered a serious
achievement. This individual program clarifies the goals of the
cooperation between Armenia and NATO, which is based on the provision
of security for our country and our people. The cooperation assumes
implementation of joint actions, not only with this powerful military
political structure but also with the member countries in separate."
"Are they planning to discuss issues regarding South Caucasus and
particularly Armenia?"
"Georgia is trying to pave the way towards NATO by means of
implementing individual programs. But the expectant stance of many
European countries and internal problems will surely prevent Georgia
to achieve its end. Georgia intends to solve its territorial problems
by means of cooperation with NATO or becoming NATO member country. The
participation of The Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Summit
in Bucharest prompts that this time the issue of Georgia’s membership
won’t be included in the agenda.
>From all the agenda issues Armenia is mostly interested in discussions
around "the challenges of the 21st century". NATO Secretary has
already announced that on 2009 they are going to elaborate the new
strategy of the military political union. This strategy will derive
from the exact evaluation of the challenges of the 21st century,
which will be outlined during the forthcoming Summit.
The cooperation with NATO is one of the components of Armenia’s
security. That is why it is very important what extension tactics will
NATO adopt during the coming five years to overcome the challenges.
We have already carried into circulation the new draft on "Security",
which is mainly aimed at transforming the cooperation from tactical
to strategic level. Our peacekeeping division in Kosovo proved that
we could be integrated in the multi-national subdivision."
"Current year NATO is planning to hold unprecedented military trainings
in Armenia. What does this testify to?"
"Armenia expressed readiness to host similar military trainings two
years ago. Many military staffs from NATO member and partner countries
will participate in the military training called "Joint Bow". The
Conference on planning and final arrangements is in process. The
same way as in 2003, when Armenia managed to prove that the latter
is NATO’s loyal partner and can provide the implementation of the
military trainings to the best of its abilities, this time also we
will prove the same.
Whereas in 2004 Azerbaijan didn’t find strength in itself to meet
the demands vested with the member countries and for the first time
in its history NATO was obliged to cancel the military trainings.
For Armenia the aim of these developments and reforms is absolutely not
in becoming NATO member country. We have underscored many times that we
haven’t got similar issue in the foreign policy agenda. Our principal
goal is to have armed forces, which can confront the challenges of
the 21st century. We must always consider the fact that with time
the challenges, the targets, and the demands are also changed.
I must also underscore that each country decides its foreign policy,
evaluates the danger jeopardizing the country and the people and
chooses the ways to confront them, on its own."