Deployment of Peacekeepers in Karabakh Possible under NATO and UN Flags

PanARMENIAN.Net - "The conflicts available in the South Caucasus are in NATO's limelight and the Alliance is concerned over the problems that impede cooperation between the states of the region," NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the South Caucasus and Central Asia Robert Simmons stated in Azerbaijan. He reiterated NATO's position on the Nagorno Karabakh problem and said Alliance's position coincides with the OSCE's on the issue. "To deploy troops on the territory of a state is possible only with the consent of the given state. As for the Russian military contingent in Armenia, the troops are there by approbation of the Armenian party and NATO doesn't interfere in the matter," he said. When touching upon the possibility of deployment of NATO peacekeeping forces in the region Simmons remarked it can become possible after long-term discussions. "This is possible if the conflicting parties reach agreement. Deployment of peacekeepers is possible not only under the OSCE flag, but also under the flags of NATO or the UN," he said.



NATO representative did not rule out the possibility of participation of the Alliance in a number of energy projects in the region including the guard of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. In his words, NATO troops will not personally guard the pipeline but NATO can render technical assistance and hold trainings with the appropriate organization of the states through which the pipeline stretches. Robert also noted that although the Alliance is worried by Iran's nuclear dossier, it will make an attack against Iran.