Interfax News Agency, Russia
April 4 2008

ARMENIA FOR DEEPER TIES WITH NATO, PEACEFUL KARABAKH SETTLEMENT – …

Armenian President-elect and current Armenia Prime Minister Serzh
Sargsyan has confirmed Yerevan’s intention to extend ties with NATO
under the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP).

Sargsyan also told the NATO summit in Bucharest that the Armenian
authorities want to strengthen democracy and help improve stability
in the region, the Armenian government’s press service told said on
Friday.

The Armenian president underscored in his speech the need to resolve
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by "peaceful means only and on the
basis of negotiations," Sargsyan said.

"Regretfully, peaceful appeals are not always voiced at the talks,
which creates ground for concerns," the press service quoted Sargsyan
as saying.

Speaking about reports in the Armenian Public TV about a possible
meeting with Azeri President Ilkham Aliyev, Sargsyan said: "I will
not oppose meeting in an international format, if the Azeri president
shows such a desire."