PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA SARGSYAN MET NATO DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL BISOGNIERO
US State News
June 18, 2009 Thursday 9:46 AM EST
BRUSSELS, Belgium, April 28 — The Republic of Armenia’s mission to
NATO issued the following news release:
NATO Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero,
paid a visit to Armenia on 28 April, 2009. He met with President
of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, Chairman of the National Assembly Hovik
Abrahamyan, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandyan and Defence Minister Seyran Ohanyan. Topics discussed
included regional security, the relations between NATO and Armenia,
the updated IPAP, and Armenia"s progress in defence reforms and
democratic institution building. The President of Armenia reiterated
that the European direction continues to be one of Armenia’s foreign
policy priorities and cooperation and interaction with NATO is one
of its key components. Armenia’s cooperation with the Alliance in the
framework of PfP program was described by S. Sargsyan as a pillar of
Armenia’s national security policy.
Ambassador Bisogniero noted that this was the first high level visit
since 2004 which comes to testify to the importance NATO attaches to
its relations with Armenia. He emphasised that NATO was satisfied
with the progress registered in different areas of cooperation
with Armenia. The Deputy Secretary General of NATO praised defence
reforms and Armenia’s contribution to peacekeeping operations. He
encouraged to further advance cooperation in the fields of the
fight against international terrorism, civil emergency planning. The
sides concurred that the Individual Partnership Action Plan was a
good instrument to discuss issues of common interest and to achieve
the goals that the sides agreed upon. In the context of improving
regional security, the President of Armenia stressed the importance
of peaceful resolution of the existing conflicts. C. Bisogniero
welcomed the ongoing Armenian-Turkish political dialogue and the
progress registered so far. With regard to the NK conflict, he noted
that though NATO is not directly involved in the settlement process,
it follows the developments carefully and would welcome any effort
directed at the peaceful resolution of the conflict. The two sides
agreed that the conflict should be resolved with due account of all
fundamental principles of international law and that one particular
principle cannot overrule the others. The President of the National
Assembly assured that the Armenian Associated Delegation to the NATO
Parliamentary Assembly will continue to actively participate in the
discussions held in different committees and sub-committees. Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan conveyed Armenia’s interest in further
developing relations with NATO. He emphasized that the Government of
Armenia appreciated the assistance received from NATO and individual
member states. Tigran Sargsyan noted that the recently established
Ministry of Emergency Situations would help address more effectively
the goals outlined as priorities in the area. Prime Minister also
presented government’s steps aimed at mitigating and overcoming the
negative impact of the global financial and economic crisis. Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian stressed that Armenia intended to strengthen
and develop mutually beneficial cooperation with NATO within the
framework of Partnership for Peace program. Armenian Foreign Minister
attached high importance to Armenia-NATO Individual Partnership
Action Plan as an effective format of cooperation. E. Nalbandian
also emphasised that Armenia would continue its cooperation with
NATO in the fields of peacekeeping, fight against international
terrorism, emergency situations and on other issues that the sides
would identify as of common interest. Claudio Bisogniero praised
the development of cooperation with Armenia and the successful
implementation of IPAP. Deputy Secretary General touched upon the
results of NATO Strasbourg/Kehl Summit. At the meeting with the
Minister of Defence S. Ohanyan, Ambassador Bisogniero particularly
stressed the importance of developing relations with Armenia in the
field of military cooperation. In that regard the priorities are to
achieve full interoperability of the peacekeeping brigade, to overhaul
the military education system and develop capabilities for long term
planning. Minister Ohanyan gave a positive assessment to the expert
assistant by NATO aimed at the implementation of defence reforms, in
particular to conduct SDR, to strengthen the mechanisms of civilian
control of the Armed Forces.For more information please contact:
Sarabjit Jagirdar, Email:- [email protected]