No red lines imposed on cooperation with Armenia, NATO official says

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia has been a member of NATO's individual partnership action plan for around two years now: there is no incompatibility in Armenia's being a CSTO member and cooperating with NATO, a North Atlantic bloc official told reporters.

“A number of countries are allied to various security and other organizations and still cooperate with NATO,” Steffen Elgersma, a representative from the Political Affairs and Security Policy Division at NATO said on Monday, November 9.

“We are on very good political terms with Armenia and welcome its participation in NATO’s programs in Kosovo and Afghanistan. Also, we are conducting pretty successful security talks with Armenia.”

In response to a question concerning the depth of cooperation with Armenia, the NATO official said there are no red lines hindering further cooperation.

Following a comment on Turkey’s ambitious aspirations for bigger claims in the South Caucasus, Elgersma said Turkey is a NATO member, situated closest to the South Caucasus.

“We hope Turkey-Armenia relations will eventually improve,” he said.

Asked about Georgia’s possible NATO accession, Elgersma said the country will one day join the Organization. “We call on Georgia to work towards the peaceful settlement of unresolved conflicts,” the official concluded.