NATO hopes for rapid settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia said.

As James Appathurai told a news conference in Armenia, though uninvolved in the Karabakh conflict settlement NATO, supports mediatory efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group. He reiterated NATO stance, supporting peaceful settlement of the conflict through negotiations and mutual concessions. He also noted that the settlement of the issue will bring political as well as economic benefits to all the countries in the region.

“With a meeting between Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents planned in Minsk, we hope for rapid settlement of the conflict through the mediation of the OSCE MG co-chairs,” Armenia Today quoted Appathurai as saying.

Appathurai specifically noted Armenia’s active participation in provision of international security as a part of peacekeeping missions.

“NATO cooperates with Armenia in forming a new defense system and well as improvement of military education,” he said.

According to Appathurai, NATO believes Armenia’s developing strategic partnership with Russia to be the country’s sovereign choice. However, he said, cooperation with Russia does not prevent Armenia’s partnership with NATO with the country always adhering to a balanced policy line.

As Appathurai noted, NATO never intended to establish presence in post-Soviet states, however, the Organization, true to its principles, was always open for democratic countries.