Updates
Interviews and press conferences
25
05, 2010
Joint briefing of the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen
President Serzh Sargsyan’s statement
I thank Mr. Secretary General for the interesting discussion. I attach great importance to this meeting - it’s our first meeting since Mr. Rusmussen has become the Secretary General of NATO.
We both are greatly satisfied with the continual nature of the Armenia-NATO dialogue. Meetings such as this one allow us to discuss all areas of the Armenia-NATO cooperation, as well as regional problems and existing challenges. We are ready to steadily continue mutually beneficial cooperation with the NATO member states and partners on all items of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) agenda, focusing our attention on the implementation of the Armenia-NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan. The 2009 report assesses positively Armenia’s accomplishments in the implementation of the program, particularly regarding reformation in the defense and security structures as well as reforms implemented in other areas. The improvement and modernization of the defense and security structures is also aimed at the synchronization with the defense and security structures of the developed democratic states. Armenia realizes the necessity of joint international efforts in fight against current challenges and importance of our participation in the NATO-led peacekeeping missions. Participation of the Armenian contingent in the peace-keeping operations in Afghanistan is a good example of such approach.
I am also satisfied with the progress in our interaction with the Alliance in the area of emergency situation management. The NATO sponsored Armenia-2010 field exercises on the elimination of the consequence of natural disasters, to be held this September in one of our regions, is just one example of our efficient cooperation in that area too.
The Armenian-Turkish process of normalization was also one of the topic of our discussions with Mr. Rusmussen. I have presented Turkey’s demeanor of unceasing preconditions, procrastination and wrecking the process which left Armenia with no alternative but to suspend the process of ratification of the Protocols. I have also presented to Mr. Secretary General our observations regarding the fact that even that step of ours didn’t sober up the Turks, who know all too well that Armenia will never allow Turkey’s breaking into the area of the NK peace process. Through its daily attempts to exploit the issue, Turkey carries on with its policy of killing the entire process.
I also noted the importance and necessity of the NATO’s balanced position on the NK conflict. I expressed hope that future NATO statements and documents regarding the NK issue will be in line with the December 2009 OSCE Ministerial Declaration, which states clearly all three principles which lie in the base of the negotiations.
In conclusion, I would like to reiterate Armenia’s readiness to continue our mutually beneficial cooperation.
I thank Mr. Secretary General for the interesting discussion. I attach great importance to this meeting - it’s our first meeting since Mr. Rusmussen has become the Secretary General of NATO.
We both are greatly satisfied with the continual nature of the Armenia-NATO dialogue. Meetings such as this one allow us to discuss all areas of the Armenia-NATO cooperation, as well as regional problems and existing challenges. We are ready to steadily continue mutually beneficial cooperation with the NATO member states and partners on all items of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) agenda, focusing our attention on the implementation of the Armenia-NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan. The 2009 report assesses positively Armenia’s accomplishments in the implementation of the program, particularly regarding reformation in the defense and security structures as well as reforms implemented in other areas. The improvement and modernization of the defense and security structures is also aimed at the synchronization with the defense and security structures of the developed democratic states. Armenia realizes the necessity of joint international efforts in fight against current challenges and importance of our participation in the NATO-led peacekeeping missions. Participation of the Armenian contingent in the peace-keeping operations in Afghanistan is a good example of such approach.
I am also satisfied with the progress in our interaction with the Alliance in the area of emergency situation management. The NATO sponsored Armenia-2010 field exercises on the elimination of the consequence of natural disasters, to be held this September in one of our regions, is just one example of our efficient cooperation in that area too.
The Armenian-Turkish process of normalization was also one of the topic of our discussions with Mr. Rusmussen. I have presented Turkey’s demeanor of unceasing preconditions, procrastination and wrecking the process which left Armenia with no alternative but to suspend the process of ratification of the Protocols. I have also presented to Mr. Secretary General our observations regarding the fact that even that step of ours didn’t sober up the Turks, who know all too well that Armenia will never allow Turkey’s breaking into the area of the NK peace process. Through its daily attempts to exploit the issue, Turkey carries on with its policy of killing the entire process.
I also noted the importance and necessity of the NATO’s balanced position on the NK conflict. I expressed hope that future NATO statements and documents regarding the NK issue will be in line with the December 2009 OSCE Ministerial Declaration, which states clearly all three principles which lie in the base of the negotiations.
In conclusion, I would like to reiterate Armenia’s readiness to continue our mutually beneficial cooperation.