Russian-Turkish tension does not change NATO’s stance on the South Caucasus. James Appathurai, NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the South Caucasus and Central Asia told the aforementioned to Armenian journalists at an online press-conference today.

According to him, each of the South Caucasus states has made its choice of political security and NATO respects that choice.

Mr Appathurai also noted that the main document of cooperation with Armenia is the Individual Partnership Action Plan. Another such plan is agreed with Azerbaijan. As to Georgia, other mechanisms are applied with its respect, considering the perspectives of its entrance into NATO.

All these partner relations are approved and supported by NATO’s 28 partners, including Turkey, he said. In the Special Representative’s words, each of this plans has its peculiarities and logic, which means that they in no way depend on NATO’s relations with Russia.

Responding to the question on the peacekeepers in Karabakh, Mr Appathurai said that the deployment of such troops may become a component of political normalization, but it’s not available yet.   

And thus, according to the Special Representative, it’s still early to discuss the possible developments and instead of this it’s necessary to move by the path of normalization.

Mr Appathurai also noted that he supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group and hopes that in 2016 we will witness a productive dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan.