Minister Explains Armenian Leader’s Absence From NATO Summit

MINISTER EXPLAINS ARMENIAN LEADER’S ABSENCE FROM NATO SUMMIT

Mediamax
May 21 2012
Armenia

Yerevan, 21 May: Armenian Foreign Minister Edvard Nalbandyan said that
the generalized declaration of NATO Summit in Chicago on conflicts
in the South Caucasus and Moldova run counter to approaches of the
OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs.

As the press service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry informed
Mediamax, Edvard Nalbandyan said this at a meeting with representatives
of the Armenian community of Chicago.

“Despite certain changes as compared to NATO’s Lisbon Declaration,
this one runs counter to approaches of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs,
who have the international mediatory mandate to settle the [Nagornyy
Karabakh] conflict. These approaches have been frequently voiced by
US, Russian and French leaders. The formulation does not correspond to
statements and decisions on conflict settlement which have been made
within the OSCE in recent years. It cannot only harm the negotiation
process but also jeopardize the fragile peace in the region especially
given the unprecedented growth of Azerbaijan’s military expenses
and bellicose rhetoric of this country’s leadership. Taking into
consideration this concern, the president of Armenia decided not to
participate in the Chicago meeting,” said Edvard Nalbandyan.