Armenia to expand ties with NATO – officials

Armenia to expand ties with NATO – officials

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
14 Sep 04

[Presenter] Baku can forget about the idea of holding joint military
exercises, a visiting delegation from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly
stated before its departure from Armenia.

[Correspondent over video of news conference] The cancellation of
the Cooperative Best Effort 2004 military exercises in Azerbaijan
has become a subject of discussion in the international media. It is
significant that the delegation from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly
was on a visit to Armenia at the time.

[Markus Meckel, Vice President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly,
speaking in English with Armenian voice-over] It is important that
cooperation in the region is comprehensive. NATO is interested
in implementing the Partnership for Peace programme in regional
cooperation. If one of the sides decides to act against the general
rules, it is unacceptable. The delegation from the NATO Parliamentary
Assembly visited Armenia for the first time. Among them are also
Turkish citizens who were not barred from entering Armenia.

[Mger Shakhgeldyan, chairman of the standing parliamentary commission
on defence, national security and internal affairs] Armenia is always
open and ready, intends to contact and expand its relations, being
more transparent and communicative.

[Correspondent over video of meeting] During its visit to Armenia,
the delegation from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly met Armenian
Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan and Head of the Armenian Police
Ayk Arutyunyan.

During the meeting with Serzh Sarkisyan, the NATO delegation stressed
the importance of continuing cooperation.

The head of the [Armenian] National Security Service pointed out
that Armenia is ready to deepen cooperation with NATO and other
member countries.

Ayk Ovanisyan, “Aylur”.