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(MFA) – On December 10, the session in the format of NATO Partnerships and Cooperative Security Committee + Armenia was held at NATO Headquarters. The session was chaired by James Appathurai, the NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia. The Armenian delegation was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Ashot Hovakimyan and First Deputy Defense Minister David Tonoyan.
During the session the Armenia-NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) Assessment Report for 2014-2015 was discussed. In his remarks Deputy Minister Hovakimyan touched upon the Armenia-NATO political dialogue and partnership cooperation in various fields, as well as the recent developments in negotiation process of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution.
Deputy Minister Hovakimyan reaffirmed Armenia’s commitment to continue the participation of Armenia in peacekeeping operation in Kosovo and Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan during 2016.
In his turn, Deputy Defence Minister Davit Tonoyan presented the reform process in the Armenian Armed Forces, the steps towards the implementation of Building Integrity Programme and enhancing human rights in the Armed Forces, as well as military education programs realized by the Defence Ministry of Armenia, outlining also the importance of initiating new projects.
Upon the request of participants of the session the Armenian side presented also the situation on the line of contact between the Armed Forces of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan. Then the representatives of delegations of NATO member states delivered speeches, highly appreciating Armenia’s cooperation with the Alliance in all fields and expressed their support to the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs towards the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Deputy Ministers also answered to numerous questions of the delegates of the NATO member states.
After the session, Deputy Ministers had a meeting with ambassador Terry Stamatopoulos, NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy. During the meeting the sides discussed issues related to the further development of Armenia-NATO political dialogue, as well as touched upon regional issues.
Within the framework of the visit Deputy Ministers Hovakimyan and Tonoyan had a meeting with Ambassador Marriët Schuurman, NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security. During the meeting the sides discussed steps towards the dialogue within the framework of Armenia-NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan 2014-2016 aimed at the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325.
The delegation of the Republic of Armenia also met with Paul Savereux, newly appointed Director of NATO’s Defence Policy and Planning Division.