BRUSSELS. - The Armenia-NATO relations, which are based on precisely realized interests and needs, have quite a rich agenda.

President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said the aforementioned at a joint press-conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels Monday

“This year marks the 25^th anniversary of the cooperation between Armenia and NATO.
It was a quarter century ago, in 1992, when newly independent Armenia joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council, thereby launching the formation of partnership relations with NATO. I am glad to state today that during that quarter century our cooperation grew and continued to be replenished with new content, becoming one of the elements of multi-layer security of the Republic of Armenia,” the President noted.

In his words, the agenda of Armenia-NATO relations includes both highest level political dialogue and various examples of practical cooperation.

“Together with the Secretary General we attached importance to maintaining the current level of political dialogue and the continuation of regular communication, as well as discussed issues on the further development and expansion of our partnership relations with NATO.

We recorded that 4 Armenia-NATO Individual Partnership Action Plans have been successfully implemented, the fifth one for 2017-2019 already being at the stage of approval. We specially underscored the importance of the upcoming launch of the activity of NATO Trust Fund in Armenia. I invited Mr Secretary General to arrive in Armenia, which will be a very good opportunity for summing up the work carried out during these years and identifying our further actions.

Armenia continues having its important input in the collective efforts towards establishment of international peace and stability, turning from a security consumer into a security provider. Despite having its own serious security challenges, Armenia contributes to the security and stability in other points of the world, realizing very well how interconnected the world is today, and that there are no longer security challenges of separate states: They belong to separate states and everyone. I am glad to note that developing its capacities in the peacekeeping sphere as a result of the Armenia-NATO cooperation, Armenia has in the recent years expanded the geography of its activity: along with the involvement in Kosovo and Afghanistan, our servicemen currently take part in the missions carried out in Lebanon and Mali under the auspices of the UN. I am pleased to note that Armenia is assessed as an“active NATO partner”by the Treaty and member-states.

I am also proud that during these missions our servicemen are assessed as prepared, disciplined and responsible participants. I am confident that our servicemen will serve the international experience and capacities acquired within the framework of the peacekeeping missions to our army-building,” Sargsyan said.

The President also expressed hope that the next meeting with the NATO leadership will take place in Yerevan.