BAGHDASARIAN EMPHASIZES NECESSITY OF CONSISTENT INTEGRATION OF RA INTO NATO AND EUROPEAN STRUCTURES
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 6 2005
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The “Rose Roth” third regular seminar
of the NATO Parlaimentary Assembly organized by the NATO Parliamentary
Assembly jointly with the RA National Assembly started its work
in Yerevan on October 6. Issues concerning problems of regional
security, prospects of development of mutual relations among the NATO
and South Caucasian countries are on the agenda of the seminar. The
heads of the National Assembly, members of the Government of Armenia,
representatives of the NATO PA, the OSCE, OSCE PA, the European Union,
Ambassadors of foreign states accredited in Yerevan are among the
event participants. Representatives of Turkey and Azerbaijan also
participate in the seminar.
In the opening speech addressed the seminar participants and guests,
Artur Baghdasarian, the Speaker of the National Assembly mentioned
that democracy is a precondition for securing regional development
and establishing stability. According to him, this is the basis which
can support settlement of conflicts present in the South Caucasus:
“We all should have courage in this region to sit at a negotiations’
table with our neighbours, and in that sense, the NATO PA and its
events are of great role,” Artur Baghdasarian stated. He mentioned
the necessity of deepening democratic reforms, consistent integration
of Armenia into the NATO and European structures.
Vartan Oskanian, the RA Foreign Minister pointed out spheres of
Armenia’s cooperation with NATO. According to him, those are not
only issues of regional stability and security but the anti-terrorism
struggle, control on limitation of armaments, issues of trafficking
as well. The second sphere are reforms in the defence structure,
particularly, strengthening of civic control towards the army. He
emphasized the importance of widening Armenia’s participation in
peace-keeping actions as well. The Minister attached great importance
to deepening of bilateral relations between Armenia and Greece in
the defence sphere and the RA and USA in the security sphere. He
also attached importance to the cooperation with Russia within the
framework of the Collective Security Treaty.
Simon Lunn, the NATO PA Secretary General appreciated the cooperation
of the NATO PA and Armenia: “We move in right direction.” According
to him, the seminar being held in Yerevan is the indicator of NATO
interests towards countries in transitional period.
