Robert Simmons: Armenia's participation in IPAP doesn't imply accession to NATO
"As you know, Armenia doesn't have an intention to join NATO. The Alliance has numerously stated that participation in the IPAP doesn't imply accession to the organization," NATO's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, Mr Robert Simmons said in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net.
"The countries, which are planning to join NATO, such as Ukraine and Georgia, will have a different scheme. As to Georgia, it should normalize relations with the neighbor states, including Russia. We do not intend to involve in confrontation. Our tasks are different. The Alliance tends to enlargement. However, accession is a long process. We are holding intensified dialogue with Georgia. The Alliance intends to extend invitations to countries that meet NATO standards to join NATO at the next Summit, in 2008," he said.
"As regards Azerbaijan, the state has not announced intention to join NATO so far," Mr Simmons added.
Full text of the interview
"The countries, which are planning to join NATO, such as Ukraine and Georgia, will have a different scheme. As to Georgia, it should normalize relations with the neighbor states, including Russia. We do not intend to involve in confrontation. Our tasks are different. The Alliance tends to enlargement. However, accession is a long process. We are holding intensified dialogue with Georgia. The Alliance intends to extend invitations to countries that meet NATO standards to join NATO at the next Summit, in 2008," he said.
"As regards Azerbaijan, the state has not announced intention to join NATO so far," Mr Simmons added.
