Too early to discuss peacekeepers' deployment in Karabakh: NATO officialDecember 17, 2015 - 12:03 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia James Apathurai commented in an interview with Tert.am on the reports on possible deployment of peacekeeping forces in Nagorno Karabakh, describing the plan as premature. “As occasionally reported in the press, the deployment of peacekeeping units in Nagorno Karabakh could be a possible element of a political settlement, but no such settlement has been achieved yet. So it is very premature to discuss NATO deployment. Instead, I support the renewed efforts of the Minsk Group Co-chairs and hope that during 2016 we will see a productive dialogue between the Armenian and Azerbaijani side,” he said. Asked to comment on the possible scenario of developments in the South Caucasus republics (which cooperate with the North-Atlantic Alliance) against the backdrop of the deteriorating Russia-Turkey relations, Apathurai said he is sure that the tension between the two countries will not affect the partnership. “We recognize of course that each of the three countries in the South Caucasus have chosen their own security policy, and we respect that. Being a NATO partner is fully compatible with membership in NATO, the CSTO, the Eurasian Economic Union, the Non-aligned Movement or other organizations of regional cooperation. Indeed, more regional cooperation seems to make a lot of sense for the South Caucasus both from an economic and strategic perspective. In this context, I am pleased to see that NATO can sometimes provide the framework for more cooperation between Armenia and Georgia, or Georgia and Azerbaijan. However, each of our partnership relations is individual in nature. In case of Armenia, our basic document is the Individual Partnership Action Plan, available on the internet,” he added. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Azerbaijan must respect human rights, Scholz tells Aliyev German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for greater respect for human rights in Azerbaijan. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. |