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On March 4 the Chairman of the RA NA Standing Committee on Defense, National Security and Internal Affairs, the Head of the RA National Assembly Delegation to NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA) Koryun Nahapetyan met with Steffen Elgersma, IPCD PASP, NATO IS, Despina Afentouli, Officer for NATO Public Diplomacy Division, Armenia country officer and Svein Amundsen, Senior Adviser on NATO Partnership Programs, NATO Liaison Office Georgia, being in Armenia with the assessment mission of Armenia-NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP). The Member of the RA NA Delegation in NATO PA Tevan Poghosyan also took part in the meeting.

Welcoming the guests Koryun Nahapetyan has highlighted the development of Armenia-NATO relationship and has noted that this meeting is a good opportunity for discussing a wide scope of issues, evaluate the level of bilateral cooperation, the procedure of the implementation of its certain components, as well as discuss numerous problems regarding the global and regional security.

Highly assessing the current level of Armenia-NATO relations Koryun Nahapetyan has noted the Committee has especially highlighted the implementation of all events, which are included within the IPAP in the parliamentary format. The legislative and oversight functions of the Committee, the role of the Committee in the budgetary process, the possibilities of more effective use of the budgetary means of the defense and security spheres in the context of passing into program budgeting were presented. The Head of the RA National Assembly Delegation to NATO Parliamentary Assembly touched upon the Committee’s cooperation with different international counterparts, particularly, different events jointly implemented with the Geneva Center for Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). Talking about the results of Wales Summit 2014, Mr Nahapetyan emphasized the importance of presentation of complete and balanced approaches in the adopting declarations.

The deputies also raised issues regarding the current level of partnership in the spheres of institutional, democratic and defensive reforms with NATO and the dynamics of the RA participation in the peacekeeping missions.

Touching upon the preparatory works related to holding the Rose-Roth seminar being planned in Armenia on June 18-20, Koryun Nahapetyan has expressed hope that during the seminar the NATO and NATO PA will provide high representation, underlining that though the Armenian Delegation has only 3 members, nevertheless it can actively take part in all meetings and debates being implemented in 5 committees enjoying the high assessment of the Assembly.

He has also referred to continuous process of recognition of genocide ahead of the Armenian Genocide Centennial, in particular, he has highlighted the resolution adopted by the political forum of the European People’s Party (EPP) on March 3, where the EPP has reaffirmed and condemned the fact of the Armenian Genocide and the Armenians’ deportations.

The participants have also touched upon the current phase of the NKR conflict, spotlighting that the NATO recognizes the OSCE Minsk Group as an only format existing for the settlement of the conflict. They have presented the concerns on the Azerbaijani sabotage operations directed to the conflict escalation.

The deputy Tevan Poghosyan has referred to the events aimed at the provision of the transparency of the Committee’s activity, the cooperation with the civil society, the professional training being implemented by NATO PA, the necessity of involving the NA deputies and experts. He has noted that he is also full of hope in terms of the upcoming Rose-Roth seminar being planned in Armenia and expects the participation of the NATO Secretary General or his Deputy. In the deputy’s opinion, only the active participation of Armenia is little for the strengthening of bilateral relations, the NATO should enlargen the format of the steps. He has distinguished several problems, which are available in the horizon of the bilateral relations, as the cyber security and the combining of forces in the anti-terrorist struggle.

Tevan Poghosyan has emphasized the commonality of democracy, protection of human rights and other values by the Republic of Armenia and NATO member countries, and in that context the necessity of recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide.

Steffen Elgersma also has highly assessed the results of the IPAP implementation, as well as the procedure of the reforms underway and Armenia’s participation in the peacekeeping actions, noting that though Armenia is no at the center of NATO attention, nevertheless it is in the broadened horizon of the Alliance. He has also raised several which related to the implementation of the budgetary process to the parliamentary hearings organized by the Committee, the increase of the oversight authorities of the National Assembly as a result of possible constitutional reforms.

The participants also discussed a number of issues of bilateral interest.