NATO NOT A RIVAL TO RUSSIA IN ARMENIA – ENVOY

Interfax
Nov 6 2009
Russia

Robert Simons, Special Representative to NATO Secretary General for
the South Caucasus, does not think NATO is Russia’s rival in Armenia.

NATO does not see these relations as competition, he said at a
news conference in Yerevan on Friday. Moscow makes such statements
sometimes, but NATO does not think so, he said.

Armenia can develop relations with NATO, with the Collective Security
Treaty Organization and with Russia, and there is no competition here,
Simmons said.

On the process of building Armenian-Turkish relations, Simmons said
that a positive outcome of the talks would stimulate stabilization
in the region.

Armenian-Turkish protocols have to do with bilateral relations, he
said. NATO supports relations between Armenia and Turkey, but cannot
support either of the sides, Simmons said.

Hopefully, the protocols will be ratified by the Armenian and Turkish
parliaments, he said.