Armenia’s Membership to CSTO is not Obstacle to Cooperation with NATO: William Lahue

Armenia’s membership to the CSTO is not an obstacle for the cooperation with NATO, head of the NATO Liaison Office in the South Caucasus, Ambassador William Lahue said at the conference entitled “Upcoming Challenges: NATO from Wales to Warsaw and Beyond.” “We understand very well that Armenia is a sovereign state and chooses itself its foreign allies. We understand that Armenia’s membership to the CSTO cannot impede that country’s cooperation with NATO,” Lahue said.

Referring to NATO-Armenia cooperation prospects, the Ambassador said there are a number of projects which aim to deepen that cooperation. He added that in November 2016 military exercises are going to be held in Georgia, and the Armenian side is also invited. “We hope our Armenian partners will accept the invitation and will take part in those military exercises. In the near future we also plan to hold military exercises in Georgia, and Armenia can participate as well,” he said.