Who and What will Do in Warsaw from Armenia?
NATO summit will be held in Warsaw in the period of July 8-9. Head of the North-Atlantic Treaty Organization called this period “rather decisive,” when NATO faces serious challenges in the field of security.
Supposedly Warsaw summit will become decisive from the perspective of a range of changes. The Treaty should resolve on its restriction and defensive policy in the forthcoming decade and outline steps directed to strengthening of stability beyond the borders. Formerly Armenia was being introduced in NATO summits on the level of Foreign Minister, and in the last meeting, on presidential level. It’s not clear yet by which level Armenia will participate in this crucial event. Tigran Balayan, press speaker of RA Foreign Ministry, told “168 Hours” that it will be informed upon the defined order.
Vahram Baghdasaryan, head of RPA faction, highlighted continuity of Armenia’s cooperation with NATO. As for expectations from the forthcoming summit, he avoided to reply, at the same time stating that NATO is one of the organizations, expectations from which are always existent. The representative of the leading power didn’t exclude that Russia may anyway influence on the decision of Serzh Sargsyan to participate in the summit or no. “It didn’t generate jealousy neither Armenia’s participation in NATO events by Russia at any time, nor the contrary. We have our directed political line, our cooperation with all organizations continues. All the organizations, which will contribute to our country’s security, we are ready to cooperate with them, and NATO is one of such organizations,” V.Baghdasaryan said.
To the observation that recently Armen Ashotyan, deputy president of RPA, stated that we are not expected in NATO, throughout 25 years the West didn’t make any alternative to proposal for security to Armenia, that’s why we engage with CSTO and whether in case of such a proposal Armenia will change its choice, V.Baghdasaryan replied, “If we have a proposal, we’ll definitely discuss it. You are supporter for “either-or,” and we have always supported “and-and.” At the same time, however, they were saying while involving in the EEU, that the USA, the EU will be jealous, however, the EU activated cooperation and negotiations with Armenia. Our relations didn’t suffer. The same approach, I think, will be observed in future as well.”
According to Vladimir Karapetyan, ANC member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Armenia should participate in NATO summit on the highest level. “It’s a very important event, and it repeatedly touched upon our region, issues covering Armenia. I’m sure, that our administrations already work in that direction to provide a proper formulation to the criteria touching upon Armenia and the region. I’m sure, our officials should record success and such a formulation should be made to vary from anti-Armenian approaches of former two summits.” According to V.Karapetyan, this event has crucial importance for regional security as well, and it should tend to shaking off tension and reduction in Eastern Europe and in our region.
To the question, whether any “jealousy,” influence may be available in Armenia’s disposition, V.Karapetyan replied, “I generally prefer to speak in name of my country, party, let analysts and citizens of a third country worry about that. We should bother and concern about interests of our country and act respectively.”
According to Tevan Poghosyan, secretary of “Heritage” faction, Armenia successfully combines cooperation of CSTO with normal partner relations of NATO, which are also deepening and extending, “Upon Individual Partnership Action Plans, launched in 2004, we are already at the 6th stage, and currently Armenia in no way yields Ukraine, Moldova or Georgia, it’s even ahead of those three. Armenia isn’t only the country of Transcaucasia, which under NATO leadership is participating in 2 peacekeeping actions in Kosovo and Afghanistan, but also under CSTO.”
T.Poghosyan stated that year after year attitude towards Armenia in NATO is changing, even at the summit in Wales Armenia’s participation left its trace. He highlighted not only high-level participation in the forthcoming meeting, but also participation of NGOs, as during those events miscellaneous issues are being covered—issues of Europe and Middle East, Great Britain, world terror, peace challenges, environmental, scientific issues.
“NATO stressed cooperation with all partners, and I’m sure, Armenia has its say there, that’s why the higher the level of Armenia’s participation will be, from the higher level its say will be reached. In particular, after the April war, I think, we have something to say, for instance, how come after the war people are being educated in American military universities, who then commit crime against humanity, by cutting hands, heads, defaming corpses and obtaining the title of a national hero? For this very reason this platform shouldn’t be lost, we have our say and have the honor and place for our cooperation, by putting forward our issues and claims. We need to pursue proper diplomacy,” T.Poghosyan said.
Mikael Melkumyan, PAP faction MP, member of Armenian delegation of Parliamentary Assembly, highlighted integration with NATO, and stated that CSTO membership of strategic partnership with Russia don’t obstacle one another, “We need to stay in a certain domain of relations with NATO, and be neither very warm, nor not warm. NATO is a serious organization and in relations with it balance with CSTO should be kept.”
Regarding Russia’s probable “jealousy” M.Melkumyan stated that NATO-Russia relations are sharpened, and, naturally, while participating in likewise summits, opinions in line with Armenia’s national and state interests should be expressed. He excluded the possibility that Armenia may withdraw from CSTO and become a NATO member country, “Russia can’t influence on Armenia’s decisions, we have our plans of peacekeepers, educational and etc. CSTO and NATO shouldn’t be contrasted, Armenia should act out of its state interest, on account of geo-political realities. There is a Russian military base in Armenia, our external borders are kept by Russian, and under these conditions how do we imagine our presence as a full NATO member?”
By Gayane Khachatryan
