RA DEFENSE MINISTER, NATO SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE DISCUSS ARMENIA-NATO RELATIONS
ArmRadio.am
22.06.2007 15:20
RA Defense Minister Michael Harutyunyan received the Speacial
Represnetative of the NATO Secretary General for South Caucasus and
Central Asia Robert Simmons. The meeting was attended by RA Ambassador
to NATO Samvel Lazarian, RA Defense Minister’s Pres Secretary,
Colonel Seyran Shahsuvaryan informs.
Mr. Simmons first congratulated Michael Harutyunyan on assuming office
and spoke about Armenia-NATO relations. Stressing the importance of
Armenia’s participation in the international peacekeeping mission, he
highly appreciated our partnership especially in Kosovo, where Armenia
has become a serious guarantor together with other peacekeepers. The
parties also turned to the perspectives of involving Armenian doctors
in the NATO and ISAF forces in Afghanistan, which will have an
exceptionally humanitarian character.
The parties exchanged views on the process of reforms envisaged by
the Individual Partnership Action Plan, involvement of civilians in
the defense sphere, the transparency of the activity of the sphere,
improvement of the information field and other issues. Reference was
made to the Military Doctrine, which is pivotal in the development
of bilateral cooperation.
Robert Simmons noted that the partnership will not compete with any
other security system, be it Russia or the Collective Security Treaty
Organization. On the contrary, all the efforts are directed at the
defense of interests of partner states, including Armenia.
At the end of the meeting the parties turned to regional developments.