NATO ASSISTS MINSK GROUP
Support A1+!Today Robert Simons, special envoy of NATO in Central Asia and South Caucasus met with RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian in Yerevan.
“NATO supports the activity of the Minsk group,” announced Robert Simons.
He noted that though NATO is not engaged in the negotiations of the Karabakh conflict settlement, the sides present them the routine of the negotiations. “We are not concerned with the Karabahk conflict settlement. It is upon the OSCE Minsk group to give assessments on the conflict regulation,” said Mr. Simons.
Robert Simons touched upon the Georgian-Russian relations during the press conference rendered with the RA FM Vartan Oskanian. He maintains that the release of the Russian officers paves a way for the two countries to meet halfway. “Russia’s stance is beneficial neither for Georgia nor for the whole region,” announced Robert Simons. Asked the question when exactly Georgia will become a member of the NATO, Mr. Simons said though Georgia is eager to become a member of Euro-Atlantic Treaty, it is too early to speak of the membership as the country. Mr. Simons respects Armenia’s and Azerbaijan’s decisions on this score.
As for the Armenian-NATO cooperation, Robert Simons said that the cooperation with their institution is very profitable and they find the reforms implemented in Armenia on proper level. He focused on holding just and fair election in Armenia.
By the way, on November 8 the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev will visit the Brussels. Robert Simons didn’t reveal the aim of the visit. He only said that they always welcome the visits of NATO member countries’ presidents and ministers to the Brussels and added that he will be glad to see Vartan Oskanian in the Brussels as well.
Vartan Oskanian attached a great importance to Mr. Simons’s visit. In his words, the key issues of their discussion were the current situation in the region, the Russian-Georgian relations, the Karabakh conflict, etc.
