ArmInfo. There are no political undertones in agreeing a plan of cooperation between Armenia and NATO within the framework of the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP), Head of the Arms Control and International Security Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Armen Yedigaryan said this on March 11 at a press conference in Yerevan attached to the opening of the NATO Week.
According to him, the implementation of the 5th program is now coming to an end, and most likely in the second half of this year, preparations will begin for the start of the 6th program, which will cover the period from 2020 to 2022. "According to the regulations, until the new plan is agreed and approved, the interaction continues within the framework of the old program. The priorities of the Armenia-NATO cooperation in the program of the Armenian government indicate the absence of any political issues in our relations. This is a comprehensive document requiring coordination, but everything is carried out according to the schedule and in the appropriate vein, "Yedigaryan assured.
In turn, Head of the Defense Policy Department of the Armenian Ministry of Defense Levon Ayvazyan believes that the cooperation plan is being coordinated in accordance with the schedule. "Naturally, this process is influenced by bureaucratic delays, but no more than that. Even with a strong desire in this process, it is impossible to see political undertones," Ayvazyan concluded.
The cooperation between Armenia and NATO is currently being developed in accordance with the Armenia-NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP), which was signed in December 2005. Armenia's participation in the IPAP involves periodic consultations with NATO on regional security, the development of the security strategy itself, the Armenian military doctrine, improvement of the defense and budget planning process, and other issues. The IPAP for 2017-2019 was signed in April 2017.