On Tuesday, March 19, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg arrived in Armenia for the first time in ten years in his post. This was reported by UNN with reference to the Alliance's press service.
Details
Stoltenberg held a joint press conference with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Yerevan.
He noted that he was pleased to be in Yerevan "on my first visit to Armenia as NATO Secretary General.
Armenia is a long-standing partner of NATO and I welcome your contribution to NATO's missions and operations. For almost 20 years, Armenia has been a key partner in NATO's peacekeeping mission KFOR, helping to ensure a secure environment for all communities in Kosovo
The two sides also discussed the importance of stability in the South Caucasus.
Armenia and Azerbaijan now have an opportunity to achieve lasting peace after years of conflict. That is why I urge both countries to reach an agreement that paves the way for normalization of relations and lasting peace for your people
Separately, Stoltenberg noted that Russia's war in Ukraine is a reminder that peace should not be taken for granted. The NATO Secretary General called on all NATO partners to "do everything possible to ensure that Putin does not win his war of aggression.
According to him, the difficult situation on the battlefield is a reason to intensify, not curtail, support.
If Putin succeeds in Ukraine, there is a real risk that his aggression will not stop there, and other authoritarian actors will be emboldened
Addendum
It is noted that during the visit, the Secretary-General discussed the progress of internal reforms in Armenia.
He emphasized Armenia's commitment to ensuring democratic control of its armed forces, including through participation in NATO's Building Integrity Program.
Recall
Last fall, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in parliament that Armenia is looking for other security partnersbut is not yet withdrawing from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).