NATO and CSTO cooperation replenish each other
"Armenia does not oppose CSTO with NATO," Hrayr Karapetyan, Head of NA Standing Committee on Defense, National Security and Internal Affairs, told a news conference in Yerevan.
At that he noted that during the meeting with Robert Simons, NATO Secretary General's Special Representative in South Caucasus and Central Asia, they CSTO and NATO "replenished each other" in terms of allying with Armenia.
According to Karapetyan, Armenia closely cooperates with CSTO member states and since 2002, it has been collaborating with NATO within the frames of Armenia-NATO Individual-Partnership Program (IPAP).
ARFD faction member also pointed out to existing fears in terms of cooperation with both organizations. "As much as cooperation with NATO is concerned, certain members of that political-military bloc, particularly Turkey and Romania, are actively assisting in Turkey's armament program," he noted.
With regard to cooperation with CSTO, he particularly focused on Russia which has started an active military-political cooperation with Azerbaijan, something that contradicts the spirit and letter of CSTO Treaty. "At this point a very natural question arises as to whether Russia sees any difference between Armenia and Azerbaijan."
Karapetyan stressed the importance of Armenia's extending cooperation within CSTO frameworks while maintaining close ties with NATO. "To maintain effective cooperation with Armenia, CSTO and NATO member states should not assist in Azerbaijan's armament program," he said.
At that he noted that during the meeting with Robert Simons, NATO Secretary General's Special Representative in South Caucasus and Central Asia, they CSTO and NATO "replenished each other" in terms of allying with Armenia.
According to Karapetyan, Armenia closely cooperates with CSTO member states and since 2002, it has been collaborating with NATO within the frames of Armenia-NATO Individual-Partnership Program (IPAP).
ARFD faction member also pointed out to existing fears in terms of cooperation with both organizations. "As much as cooperation with NATO is concerned, certain members of that political-military bloc, particularly Turkey and Romania, are actively assisting in Turkey's armament program," he noted.
With regard to cooperation with CSTO, he particularly focused on Russia which has started an active military-political cooperation with Azerbaijan, something that contradicts the spirit and letter of CSTO Treaty. "At this point a very natural question arises as to whether Russia sees any difference between Armenia and Azerbaijan."
Karapetyan stressed the importance of Armenia's extending cooperation within CSTO frameworks while maintaining close ties with NATO. "To maintain effective cooperation with Armenia, CSTO and NATO member states should not assist in Azerbaijan's armament program," he said.
