NATO SECRETARY GENERAL IS PLEASED WITH RESULTS OF HIS VISIT TO ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net - 16.01.2001, MEDIAMAX, YEREVAN. "I am very pleased with the results of my visit to Armenia," NATO Secretary General Lord George Robertson stated after the meeting with the President of Armenia Robert Kocharian.

Lord Robertson said that at the meeting with the president the possibility of Armenia's more active participation in NATO Partnership for Peace program was discussed. In particular, he said, the representatives of Armenia could take part in the seminars on such topics as civil planning, questions of defense economy. Lord Robertson noted that the question of the preparation in the composition of Armenian Armed Forces of a sub-unit intended for participation in peace-making operations was also touched upon. NATO Secretary General said that Greece renders the financial assistance to Armenia in this matter.

The President of Armenia and NATO Secretary General discussed also the Armenian-Russian relations and the dialogue of the North-Atlantic alliance with Russia. "At present our relations with Russia are consistently developing, and in February I will pay a visit to Moscow on the invitation of the Russian Foreign Minister I. Ivanov," Robertson said. He noted that they agreed with the president of Armenia that the close relations of Russia and Armenia don't at all oppose Russia's relations with NATO. "In this region there is a place for all the forces interested in establishing of peace, stability and security in the Caucasus", Robertson stressed.

NATO Secretary General said that with the president of Armenia he discussed the course of the peace settlement of the Karabakh conflict. "Without a peaceful resolution to the problem the whole Caucasian region will suffer throughout many years", Robertson said, stressing that the main responsibility for the search of the settlement lies on the countries, directly involved in the conflict.

After the meeting with President Kocharian George Robertson left for Baku, where today evening his meeting with the President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev will take place. -0-