23:03, 21 December 2004

Armenia's membership in NATO 'is not on agenda'

The question of Armenia's membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) isn't on the agenda of Armenia's foreign policy. Armenia doesn't issue untimely statements and develops its partnership with NATO gradually," Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sargsian said during the discussion on regional security organized by the Center for Public Dialogue and Processes. In the minister's words, relations between Armenia and NATO do not pursue certain political goals, they start from the necessity to neutralize dangers and threats. These relations, as Mr Sargsian assured, will develop until discrepancies appear between the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and international obligations undertaken by Armenia within NATO. The minister believes that Armenia's cooperation with the CSTO and its cooperation with NATO supplement each other creating additional security guaranties in the South Caucasus.

Author: Ashot Ter-Grigorian, CK correspondent