ARMENIAN FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MINISTERS PARTICIPATE IN SESSION OF NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL

ARMENPRESS
MAY 13, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 13, ARMENPRESS: The session of the North Atlantic Council
was held May 12 in Brussels in "28+1" format, with participation of
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan, Defense Minister Seyran
Ohanyan and representatives of 28 NATO member states.

Armenian Foreign Affairs Ministry press service told Armenpress that
the heads of the foreign political and defense departments of Armenia
delivered speech at the session. Foreign Minister E. Nalbandyan
referred to different spheres of Armenia-NATO cooperation, the
priorities of the foreign policy in Armenia, the regulation process of
Armenian-Turkish relations, to solution opportunities of the Artsakh
issue, as well as to issues on establishment of security and stability
in the region.

In his speech the Armenian Defense Minister represented the process
and prospects of the reforms being implemented in the sphere of
security and defense. NATO Deputy Secretary General, as well as 14
representatives of the member states delivered speech at the session
of the North Atlantic Council, highly assessing the implementation
process of the reforms in Armenia and Armenia’s participation in the
peacekeeping activities of Kosovo and Afghanistan.

Afterward Ministers E. Nalbandyan and S. Ohanyan answered to a lot of
questions concerning country’s foreign policy, regional developments,
and the reforms implemented in Armenia in different spheres. The
ambassadors of the NATO member states expressed readiness of support
the steps undertaken by Armenia in the direction of establishing peace,
stability and security in the South Caucasian region.

The North Atlantic Council’s session was preceded by the meeting
of Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan and Defense Minister
Seyran Ohanyan with NATO Deputy Secretary General Claudio Bisogniero.

During the meeting the interlocutors referred to Armenia-NATO
cooperation within the frameworks of the program of "Partnership for
Peace" and Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP).

Ministers E. Nalbandyan and S. Ohanyan reconfirmed Armenia’s readiness
to continue the mutually beneficial cooperation with the NATO. Claudio
Bisogniero highly assessed the progress registered in some spheres of
cooperation with Armenia. He also expressed gratitude to Armenia for
efficient participation in the peacekeeping activity in Afghanistan.