2017 marked serious progress in Armenia-NATO relations – debate
2017 has been an eventful year for Armenia in terms of our developing cooperation with NATO, Armen Yedigaryan, the head of the Foreign Ministry’s Arms Control and International Security Department, said Tuesday.
In a speech at an event dedicated to the NATO Week in Armenia, the official cited President Serzh Sargsyan’s February visit to the NATO Headquarters in Brussels and meeting with Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg as a serious development marking a new level of partnership.
“On June 13, James Appathurai, the NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, visited Armenia and was hosted by the country’s leader. Extensive discussions were held also with high-ranking officials,” Yedigaryan said, noting that the North-Atlantic Council adopted the fifth document of confidence in April.
Levon Ayvazyan, the head of a Defense Ministry department responsible for policymaking, highlighted the country’s active engagement in the NATO missions to Afghanistan and Kosovo.
“The cooperation will continue also in the coming years. We are now in a process of developing capacities. The priority plans with NATO are intended for long-term objectives, and will improve in the couple of years to come,” he said, stressing also the importance of cooperation in the frameworks of military education, and training projects.
Matthias Kiesler, Germany's ambassador also attending meeting, said he sees a serious potential of developing the defense industries in Armenia after the country’s transition to the parliamentary model.
“Transition to a parliamentary system is a big challenge to many, especially parliamentarians. We are ready to propose our expert services to be able to later share our experience with Armenia, as well as exercise parliamentary oversight. This is why we have invited a high-ranking German Defense Ministry official as part of the week-long events for participation in a panel discussion at the National Assembly,” he said.