ArmInfo.NATO supports Armenia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, its peaceful aspirations, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated at a joint briefing with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on March 19 in Yerevan.
According to him, the stability of the South Caucasus is very important for the Euro-Atlantic region. "This matters for Euro-Atlantic security as we face a more dangerous world," he said, reiterating that "NATO supports Armenian sovereignty and territorial integrity, and your peaceful aspirations."
The NATO Secretary General believes that currently Armenia and Azerbaijan have the opportunity to achieve lasting peace. "I urge both countries to reach an agreement to pave the way for the normalisation of relations and a durable peace," Mr Stoltenberg said.
The Secretary General warned that "Russia's war in Ukraine is a sobering reminder that we cannot take peace for granted. If Putin succeeds in Ukraine, there is a real risk that his aggression will not stop there and other authoritarian actors will be emboldened," he said. Mr Stoltenberg called on all NATO partners to "do what they can to ensure Putin does not win his war of aggression."
"The situation on the battlefield remains difficult, but this is a reason to step up, not to scale back our support," he said.
The NATO Secretary General also discussed the progress in Armenia's domestic reforms. He highlighted Armenia's commitment to ensuring democratic control of its armed forces, including by participating in NATO's building integrity programme. "You have also shown a real commitment to tackling corruption, strengthening your democratic institutions, and upholding the rule of law," Mr Stoltenberg concluded, wishing good luck to the Armenian authorities in building a "bright future" for the Republic of Armenia and the entire region.