Simmons: NATO Hopes for Peaceful Settlement of Karabakh Issue
The NATO should be open to its partners, stated NATO SecGen's Special Representative for the South Caucasus and Central Asia Robert Simmons, addressing the round table organized by Center for Strategic Analysis Spectrum in Yerevan today. In his words, the NATO develops partnership with those countries that were enemies during the Cold War period. The Partnership for Peace Program was formed for that purpose. The program in fact assists not only the NATO, but also those PfP participant states. «The Program of Cooperation we have worked out will assist in the process of implementation of the program, development of countries in security, and other aspects. By joining the first stage of the Program in 2002, Armenia got an opportunity to cooperate with the NATO, as well as to sustain peace and moreover - to send a peacekeeping mission to Kosovo,» he remarked. Besides, the NATO can promote forming a model like that, which assists holding important reforms in the armed forces of a number of countries, Simmons added.
As noted by the NATO SecGen Special Representative, Armenia has decided to take part in the cooperation second phase and confirm the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP). IPAP in fact allows, by using the experience of NATO member states, to work out a plan of actions in some fields that will assist Armenia's progress and implementation of respective reforms. «The NATO is very glad to work with Armenia in those fields and promote country's development. Implementation of actions provided for by the IPAP is a very important move and will be utterly useful to Armenia,» Simmons remarked. In his words, one of the directions of the actions the IPAP provides for is the political arena, i.e. «in which way Armenia will be able to more successfully integrate into Euro-Atlantic structures without joining the NATO, to continue democratic reforms, etc.» «We have determined specific goals to Armenia, and we will help Yerevan attain these goals,» the NATO senior representative said. In his words, another item of the Program provides for determining defense planning strategy and involves wider opportunities to develop cooperation with the NATO.» "Another direction refers to the public. It is very important that the population be informed on Armenia's cooperation with the NATO," Robert Simmons said.
In his words, the NATO does not pursue any goal to become a competitor from the point of view of Armenia's relations with other countries and organizations, including Russia. «We are glad that many NATO partners develop relations with Russia. In the course of the meeting of Armenian President Robert Kocharian with NATO SecGen Jaap de Hoop Scheffer it was noted that it is a very good model. No one has the right to demand that Armenia choose between the NATO and Russia,» the NATO SecGen's Special Representative stated. «We know Armenia experiences security problems, specifically the issue of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is not settled. We do not want to play a role of a mediator, as the OSCE is engaged in that. We will accept the option of settlement that is appropriate to you,» R. Simmons underscored.
As noted by the NATO SecGen Special Representative, Armenia has decided to take part in the cooperation second phase and confirm the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP). IPAP in fact allows, by using the experience of NATO member states, to work out a plan of actions in some fields that will assist Armenia's progress and implementation of respective reforms. «The NATO is very glad to work with Armenia in those fields and promote country's development. Implementation of actions provided for by the IPAP is a very important move and will be utterly useful to Armenia,» Simmons remarked. In his words, one of the directions of the actions the IPAP provides for is the political arena, i.e. «in which way Armenia will be able to more successfully integrate into Euro-Atlantic structures without joining the NATO, to continue democratic reforms, etc.» «We have determined specific goals to Armenia, and we will help Yerevan attain these goals,» the NATO senior representative said. In his words, another item of the Program provides for determining defense planning strategy and involves wider opportunities to develop cooperation with the NATO.» "Another direction refers to the public. It is very important that the population be informed on Armenia's cooperation with the NATO," Robert Simmons said.
In his words, the NATO does not pursue any goal to become a competitor from the point of view of Armenia's relations with other countries and organizations, including Russia. «We are glad that many NATO partners develop relations with Russia. In the course of the meeting of Armenian President Robert Kocharian with NATO SecGen Jaap de Hoop Scheffer it was noted that it is a very good model. No one has the right to demand that Armenia choose between the NATO and Russia,» the NATO SecGen's Special Representative stated. «We know Armenia experiences security problems, specifically the issue of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is not settled. We do not want to play a role of a mediator, as the OSCE is engaged in that. We will accept the option of settlement that is appropriate to you,» R. Simmons underscored.
