Armenia to develop relations with NATO within IPAP

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia intends to develop cooperation with NATO in the framework of the Individual Partnership Action Plan, President Serzh Sargsyan said.



"I think it will be a good experience for our armed forces. But we have numerously stated that joining NATO is not on Armenia's foreign policy agenda. Former President Kocharian and I, then-Defense Minister, have commented on the issue," the President said.



Asked whether Georgia, Ukraine and Azerbaijan's aspiration to NATO may be described as anti-Russian move, Mr Sargsyan said, "I do not remember any state explaining its joining NATO by a wish to secure itself against Russia. But I speak from the viewpoint of the Armenian statehood. If our country is a member of CSTO and if there are Russian bases here, joining NATO would certainly be an anti-Russian step. But we don't have reasons to do so," Kommersant reports.