Armenia to develop relations with NATO within IPAP
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.
"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.
