Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Armenian MP upbeat on future cooperation with NATO

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Armenian MP upbeat on future cooperation with NATO

    Armenian MP upbeat on future cooperation with NATO

    Hayots Ashkharh, Yerevan
    3 Dec 04

    Armenian MP Mger Shakhgeldyan has said that the Armenian MPs' failure
    to attend a NATO-sponsored seminar in Baku will not affect the
    country's relations with the North Atlantic alliance. In his interview
    with the Hayots Ashkharh newspaper, Shakhgeldyan said that Armenia
    wants to develop even more the potential of its participation in this
    organization. Touching on Azerbaijan's statements that NATO should be
    involved in the Karabakh conflict settlement, the Armenian MP said
    such a development of events is impossible since the NATO
    secretary-general recently said that the organization is not going to
    engage in the settlement of the problem. The following is the text of
    Vaan Vardanyan's report by Armenian newspaper Hayots Ashkharh on 3
    December headlined "NATO will not intervene". Subheadings have been
    inserted editorially:

    Armenia wants to develop cooperation with NATO

    It is known that the Armenian parliamentary delegation did not have
    the opportunity to take part in the event initiated by the NATO
    Parliamentary Assembly that took place in Baku. The chairman of the
    defence, national security and interior affairs commission of the
    National Assembly, Mger Shakhgeldyan, comments on the further
    prospects of our delegation's activity in NATO.

    [Hayots Ashkharh correspondent] Will the fact that the Armenian
    delegation did not take part in the Baku NATO seminar not create
    problems in the sense of our future work in the NATO Parliamentary
    Assembly?

    [Mger Shakhgeldyan] I do not think there will be a problem, as we did
    not take part because of the known situation. It was too late when we
    received a reply on behalf of the secretary-general of the
    Parliamentary Assembly connected with our worry. Technically, our
    departure was already impossible and the seminar was coming to an
    end. That was also the position of political forces.

    Incidentally, it should be emphasized that we received no reply from
    the Azerbaijani party. Moreover, during a meeting with the mass media,
    the chairman of the Azerbaijani parliament said making no secret that
    they were not interested in the Armenian delegation's participation
    and it is very good that the Armenian party did not come. In such a
    situation, our departure was simply senseless.

    Certainly, in the future we shall continue acting in the NATO
    Parliamentary Assembly and we want to use more effectively and develop
    even more the potential of our participation in that structure.

    Azerbaijan has no privileged right of membership

    [Correspondent] But the Azerbaijani party is spreading rumours that
    their positions in the Assembly have become so strong that they want
    to become a permanent member from an associated one. Is that possible?

    [Shakhgeldyan] Anyway, there was no such problem connected with the
    autumn session. I do not think that Azerbaijan will be given a
    privilege in this matter in comparison with other countries of the
    region. The abovementioned problem is connected with how much
    Azerbaijan will develop on its way of integration into NATO. They
    declare this from time to time, in this sense, there is a difference
    between our and their positions in the Parliamentary Assembly. But
    today we can preserve the balance.

    [Correspondent] Does it mean that Azerbaijan may gain the status of a
    permanent member only after becoming a competent member of the NATO
    military and political structures?

    [Shakhgeldyan] It is possible in an unofficial sense. Because from the
    official point of view, the Parliamentary Assembly and NATO are
    independent from each other. Stemming from a number of approaches, if
    Azerbaijan declares that it is joining other structures of NATO, I do
    not rule out that such an issue may arise in the Assembly.

    [Correspondent] May Turkey's support play a decisive role in this
    matter?

    [Shakhgeldyan] Certainly, Turkey greatly supports Azerbaijan. It is
    also clear that Turkey is an old and one of the most important members
    of NATO. But I would not say that its support can have a decisive
    role. Discussions in the Assembly are free and on the whole, a
    viewpoint is being formed regarding any country not only taking
    account of its desires, but also many other problems. We are acting
    towards the establishment of friendly relations, but Turkey's support
    for Azerbaijan is very big.

    NATO's involvement in Karabakh settlement impossible

    [Correspondent] The Azerbaijani party has announced once again that
    they think that the involvement of a NATO force in the process of the
    regional and especially the Karabakh issue settlement is
    expedient. May such initiatives be important in the sense of
    strengthening Azerbaijan's positions?

    [Shakhgeldyan] NATO itself should make a decision to take part in this
    process. I think at present, irrespective of Azerbaijan's desires and
    readiness, such a development of events is impossible. The NATO
    secretary-general recently announced in Armenia that NATO is not going
    to be involved in the settlement of the Karabakh issue.

    Certainly, NATO is extending its presence in the South Caucasus, but
    as they say, they are watching the Karabakh issue only within the
    framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. Let us not forget that the role of
    the USA in NATO is significant, and if the American co-chairman of the
    Minsk Group says that they consider the continuation of the Minsk
    Group's activity to be important, so... [ellipsis as given]
Working...
X