NATO WEEK TO BE HELD IN ARMENIA ON MARCH 12-16
Noyan Tapan
Mar 12 2007
YEREVAN, MARCH 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The NATO week will be held in
Armenia on March 12-16. As Arman Kirakosian, the Deputy Minister of
Foreign Affairs of Armenia stated at the March 9 press conference,
NATO high-ranking representatives’ visits, a number of information
and representative events, TV programs, meetings with journalists,
broadcast of films about the NATO-Armenia cooperation by a
number of TV channels of the republic are envisaged for those
days. Yerevan-Kosovo TV bridge will also be organized for servicemen
of the Armenian peace-keeping battalion being there and members of
their families. In A.Kirakosian’s words, during the recent years
Armenia widened its participation in the NATO Partnership for
Peace program what will assist improvement of the defence system of
the country. It was mentioned that Armenia’s participation in the
Individual Parnership Actions Plan (IPAP) involves all the spheres
of cooperation with the NATO. Armenia will use the IPAP mechanisms
to improve its defensive and security systems and raise ability of
mutual cooperation. A.Kirakosian also stated that the Defence and
Foreign Ministers of Armenia will participate in April in Brussels
in the NATO meeting with the 26+1 format (NATO members, partners and
Russia) where estimation for implementation of the program by Armenia
will be presented. In the Deputy Minister’s words, during this period
of time, the NATO information center was opened in Yerevan within
the framework of the program. Foundation of a situation center for
crisis management was also started in Armenia. The Deputy Foreign
Minister mentioned that relations of Armenia with the NATO is one of
directions of the foreign policy of the country and elements of the
security system. He emphasized that relations with the North-Atlantic
Alliance and CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization may not be
observed as competitive ones as Armenia is a CSTO member, but only
cooperates with the NATO. It was mentioned that CSTO Secretary Nikolai
Bordyuzha will also visit Armenia soon. He will have meetings with
the country administration, society representatives, students.