ARMENIA-NATO DEEPENING COOPERATION ISSUES DISCUSSED
National Assembly of RA, Armenia
May 24 2006
On May 23 RA NA Vice Speaker Tigran Torosyan received NATO Secretary
General’s Special Representative Robert Simmons.
During the meeting the issues of cooperation within the framework of
Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) between Armenia and NATO
were discussed.RA NA Vice Speaker Tigran Trosyan, referring to the
perspectives of cooperation, mentioned that it will continue both in
NATO PA and in broader aspect, since it is one of the most important
components in ensuring the security system of Armenia. Highlighting the
meaning of constitutional reforms in deepening of democracy process,
human rights protection, formation of full complex of state governance
checks and balances, as well as solving problems of national security,
Mr.Torosyam found natural the existence of political components
in IPAP and hoped that the cooperation with NATO can promote the
successful solution of Euro integration and improvement of regional
relationships to meet conflicts.
Both sides highlighted the issues of holding the forthcoming elections
in conformity to the democracy standards, further expansion of IPAP
development. Mr. Simmons attached importance to the role and meaning of
the Parliament in the issue of NATO relations, mentioning the Armenian
delegation work and the important role of national diplomacy in the
NATO PA. He is here to give mid-term evaluation to IPAP and thinks
that the programme has got positive developments, and the Parliament
may have an active role in the continuation of it.
According to Mr. Simmons, the IPAP is a document that can be completed
and developed; since in the basis it is a protection of democracy
values. According to NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative,
the alliance can promote the development of Armenia-Turkey relations.
On Mr. Simmons’ request, returning to the situation around Armenian
Parliament, Mr. Torosyan mentioned that the rearrangement of political
forces would not affect Armenian foreign policy, NATO relationships
and the regulation of IPAP problems. It was also mentioned that
the Committee on Coordination of Cooperation between Armenia and
European Institutions was created to deepen the cooperation. The
Committee headed by RA President will essentially promote the IPAP
implementation.
Other issues of mutual interests were also discussed during the
meeting.