INTEGRATION INTO EUROPE AMONG ARMENIA’S FOREIGN POLITICAL PRIORITIES – PRESIDENT

Interfax
April 28 2009
Russia

Integration into European institutions remains among Armenia’s foreign
political priorities, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said at a
meeting with NATO Deputy Secretary General Claudio Bisogniero.

"The European vector remains among Armenia’s foreign political
priorities, and cooperation with NATO is among its crucial elements,"
Sargsyan said at a meeting with Bisogniero.

Sargsyan described cooperation between Armenia and NATO under the
Partnership for Peace program as a component of Armenia’s national
security, the presidential press service told Interfax on Tuesday.

Bisogniero welcomed Armenian-Turkish political dialogue and progress
that has been made in it. While NATO is not directly involved in
the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, it is still closely
following the development of the situation and welcomes any action
that could lead to a peaceful resolution of the problem, he said.

"The parties pointed out that the conflict should be settled in line
with all principles of international law, and none of these principles
can be dominating or be invoked at the expense of another," it said.

Bisogniero said the Alliance welcomed progress visible in various
areas of cooperation with Armenia. This is the first time a NATO high-
ranking official has visited Armenia since 2004, which is a sign
of importance that the Alliance attaches to relations with Armenia,
the presidential press service said.