ARMENIAN LEADER, NATO DEPUTY CHIEF DISCUSS TIES

Mediamax
April 28 2009
Armenia

Yerevan, 28 April: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan met NATO Deputy
Secretary-General Claudio Bisogniero in Yerevan today.

Sargsyan said at the meeting that the European direction remains as
one of the priorities of the Armenian foreign policy, and cooperation
with NATO is one of the most important components, the press service
of the Armenian president told Mediamax today.

The president also noted that cooperation with NATO within the
framework of the Partnership for Peace programme is an element for
ensuring Armenia’s national security.

Bisogniero expressed his satisfaction with the progress reached between
Armenia and NATO on various spheres. NATO deputy secretary-general
highly praised defence reforms carried out in Armenia, as well as
Armenia’s participation in peacekeeping operations.

The two men expressed the same opinion that Armenia’s Individual
Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) with NATO is a good tool for developing
cooperation.

Bisogniero welcomed the Armenian-Turkish political dialogue and the
progress reached in this sphere. As for the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict
settlement, NATO deputy secretary-general said that the alliance is
monitoring the process and welcomes any efforts that will facilitate
solution of the problem.

NATO deputy secretary-general also met with Armenian Speaker Hovik
Abrahamyan and Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan in Yerevan today.