ARMENIAN MPS CONTENT WITH NATO TALKS

18:10 ~U 17.10.13

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The Armenia-NATO talks continue on a very positive level despite the
Customs Union integration efforts, says a Republican MP representing
Armenia’s delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

“We have been in active contacts on different levels at the NATO
Parliamentary Assembly in the past year and half. We introduce
our approaches in global and regional terms. The dialogues on an
individual level have been so effective in the past months that our
delegation is very often pointed out to,” Koryun Nahapetyan told
reporters on Thursday.

He said that despite its small size (three members), the delegation
very actively takes part in the activities of all the five committees
of the Assembly.

The Republican MP said there is a preliminary agreement for organizing
the PA Political Committee’s visit to Armenia next year. “The visit
will also help develop a political agenda,” he noted.

As for Armenia’s Customs Union integration efforts, Nahapetyan said
the issue has not been discussed on the Assembly level. “I haven’t
seen at least any concerns that it may conflict with the cooperation
plan,” he noted.

Tevan Poghosyan of the opposition Heritage party reaffirmed
Nahapetyan’s statement on the existing positive atmosphere at the
Assembly.

“All the three of us are really present everywhere. Our delegation
enjoys a great respect, and there has never been a case that we were
not allowed to speak whenever there was a desire,” he noted.

The opposition MP said he doesn’t expect President Serzh Sargsyan’s
September 3 statement on the Customs Union membership to seriously
affect the Armenia-NATO relations. “I personally do not even
believe that the membership plan is realistic. I remain committed
to the principle that Armenia’s development is linked to European
integration,” he said, noting that a partnership with NATO does not
imply any restraints in the bilateral cooperation format.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress