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Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
June 24 2005
NATO official discontent over Russian arms transfer
Baku, June 23, AssA-Irada
If the Armenian government grows discontent with the stationing of
Russian bases in its territory, NATO will assist Yerevan on this
issue, said special envoy of the NATO Secretary General on South
Caucasus and Central Asia. In an interview with journalists from S
Caucasus countries in Brussels, Robert Simons praised the last round
of the Russo-Georgian talks. In conclusion of the discussions, Moscow
stated its readiness to honor the commitments it made at the OSCE
summit in Istanbul, Turkey in 1999 and pulled out its military bases
from Georgia.
Although Simons welcomed the withdrawal of Russian bases from
Georgia, he voiced discontent with the fact that Russian forces
remain in Armenia, as the latter may grow discontent over Russia's
military presence in its territory.
`Russia has maintained its military base in Armenia. This is in line
with the Treaty on Conventional Arms in Europe. On the other hand,
this is undesirable, as certain challenges may arise if Armenia grows
discontent with Russian military presence in its territory.'
The NATO official said the presence of Russian bases in Armenian
territory is not likely to affect NATO-Armenia relations.
`This is not a problem for NATO. The alliance does not build ties
with its with partner states based on competition and does not see
Russia as its rival in the Caucasus.'
Simons said that in terms of its ties with NATO, Georgia is far ahead
of Azerbaijan and Armenia and is the only Caucasus state to have
expressed its willingness to enter the alliance.
Touching upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper Garabagh,
Simons said NATO fully supports OSCE and does not aspire to replace
its mediating Minsk Group. The alliance does not see itself as an
intermediary in the conflict settlement but `will discuss' the issue
if it is offered a greater role in the process, he added.*
June 24 2005
NATO official discontent over Russian arms transfer
Baku, June 23, AssA-Irada
If the Armenian government grows discontent with the stationing of
Russian bases in its territory, NATO will assist Yerevan on this
issue, said special envoy of the NATO Secretary General on South
Caucasus and Central Asia. In an interview with journalists from S
Caucasus countries in Brussels, Robert Simons praised the last round
of the Russo-Georgian talks. In conclusion of the discussions, Moscow
stated its readiness to honor the commitments it made at the OSCE
summit in Istanbul, Turkey in 1999 and pulled out its military bases
from Georgia.
Although Simons welcomed the withdrawal of Russian bases from
Georgia, he voiced discontent with the fact that Russian forces
remain in Armenia, as the latter may grow discontent over Russia's
military presence in its territory.
`Russia has maintained its military base in Armenia. This is in line
with the Treaty on Conventional Arms in Europe. On the other hand,
this is undesirable, as certain challenges may arise if Armenia grows
discontent with Russian military presence in its territory.'
The NATO official said the presence of Russian bases in Armenian
territory is not likely to affect NATO-Armenia relations.
`This is not a problem for NATO. The alliance does not build ties
with its with partner states based on competition and does not see
Russia as its rival in the Caucasus.'
Simons said that in terms of its ties with NATO, Georgia is far ahead
of Azerbaijan and Armenia and is the only Caucasus state to have
expressed its willingness to enter the alliance.
Touching upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper Garabagh,
Simons said NATO fully supports OSCE and does not aspire to replace
its mediating Minsk Group. The alliance does not see itself as an
intermediary in the conflict settlement but `will discuss' the issue
if it is offered a greater role in the process, he added.*