Armenia Wants To Be Part Of NATO, UK Ambassador Says

ARMENIA WANTS TO BE PART OF NATO, UK AMBASSADOR SAYS
Nvard Davtyan

“Radiolur”
13.04.2012 18:50

The Center for Globalization and Regional Cooperation held a
conference today dedicated to Armenia-NATO relations. “NATO is
a serious structure; therefore, our public should be informed
about the objectives and functions of this and other international
organizations,” Head of the Center Stepan Grigoryan told “Radiolur.”

Armenia appreciates the cooperation with NATO in different spheres
– from democratic, institutional reforms to military cooperation,
Head of the NATO Desk at the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Gagik Hovhannisyan said. According to him, the practical tools like
the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) signed in 2005, play
a great role here.

Armenia has proceeded to the second stage of cooperation under the
IPAP. In the coming two years the program envisages cooperation in
the fields of defense, security, crisis management and others. The
high-level political dialogue also continues to develop.

According to the MFA representative, Armenia attaches great importance
to our country’s participation in global peacemaking efforts.

“Between 2004 and 2011 Armenia participated in NATO’s peacekeeping
activities in Kosovo. Although we had to leave Kosovo last year, we
are ready to join the mission again. Armenia has joined also the NATO
mission in Afghanistan since 2010. In 2011 we tripled our presence
in Afghanistan,” Gagik Hovhannisyan said.

Armenia shares the opinion that it is possible to resist the
contemporary security challenges only through close cooperation
between the Alliance and its partner countries, and Armenia has all
opportunities to expand and develop its relations with NATO.

According to UK Ambassador to Armenia Catherine Leach, Armenia shows
with its actions that it wants to be part of NATO.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress