Tuesday, March 19 2024 14:29

ArmInfo.Armenia is interested in developing the existing active political dialogue and expanding  partnerships with both NATO and its individual members. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated on March 19 at a joint press statement with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

As the government's press service reports, the Prime Minister of  Armenia stated in his speech, in particular:

"Dear Mr. Secretary General, 

Dear Colleagues,

We are glad to host NATO Secretary General Mr. Jens Stoltenberg and  his delegation in Armenia. This visit is your first visit to Armenia  in the position of the NATO Secretary General. It is a good  opportunity to exchange opinions on both Armenia-NATO cooperation and  regional and global stability and security issues.

We are interested in continuing to develop the existing political  dialogue and expanding the partnership with the Alliance as well as  individual member states. We hope that the new format of Armenia-NATO  cooperation, the "Individually Tailored Partnership Program", will be  approved soon. In light of the developments in our region, it is  extremely important for Armenia to strengthen its resilience and  develop appropriate defense capabilities.

We also attach great importance to Armenia's participation in  peacekeeping operations and consider it an important contribution to  ensuring international peace and security. The Armenian peacekeeping  unit continues to contribute to the Kosovo (KFOR) mission, and as you  know, in July 2023, when the situation in Kosovo was somewhat  unstable, Armenia increased the personnel of its peacekeeping unit  with an additional 17 soldiers.

Effective dialogue is also carried out at the parliamentary level,  given that our parliamentarians are involved in NATO Parliamentary  Assembly meetings and Rose-Roth seminars.

Dear Colleagues,

Armenia continues to adhere to the policy of regionalization. Our  special relations with Georgia and the Islamic Republic of Iran are  extremely important and none of our cooperation can be directed  against our own region.

I presented to Mr. Stoltenberg the vision and approaches of the  Government of the Republic of Armenia to establishing stability and  peace in the South Caucasus. I reaffirm my repeatedly voiced  willingness to normalize relations with Azerbaijan based on the 3  principles agreed at the highest level, namely, recognition of each  other's territorial integrity based on the Alma-Ata Declaration, the  delimitation of the Armenia-Azerbaijan interstate border according to  the Alma-Ata Declaration for restoring the border that existed at the  time of the collapse of the USSR in 1991 between the two republics,  as well as the unblocking of regional infrastructures, respecting the  sovereignty and jurisdiction of the countries they pass through,  based on the principles of equality and reciprocity. Regarding the  latter, I have also presented the "Crossroads of Peace" project,  which summarizes our ideas on the issue.

We expect the firm support of the international community, including  NATO, for the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan based on  known and mutually agreed upon principles, as well as the unequivocal  rejection of the policy of coercion and threats.  I also presented to  the General Secretary the proposals for a simultaneous withdrawal of  troops from the Armenia-Azerbaijan border of 1991, mutual arms  control, and the signing of a non-aggression pact, which have not  received a positive response from official Baku to date.

We are also committed to the agenda of normalizing relations with  Turkey. We believe that the implementation of the agreements reached  with Turkey in 2022, which were subsequently reaffirmed, may have a  positive impact on the establishment of stability in the South  Caucasus region.

During the conversation with the General Secretary, we also had the  opportunity to discuss the reform agenda of the Armed Forces of  Armenia. I emphasized that this process is not directed against any  state and is aimed at increasing the defense capabilities of the  Armed Forces of Armenia in order to ensure the territorial integrity  of the Republic of Armenia.

Dear Secretary General,

In conclusion, let me thank you for the productive discussions.  Once  again, I welcome your visit to the Republic of Armenia and I am  pleased to give the floor to you."

Notably, Mr Stoltenberg is on a tour of the South Caucasus. On March  17, he visited Baku, on Monday he went to Georgia, and today, March  19, he arrived in Armenia.