Cooperation with CSTO doesn’t absolutely exclude NATO partnership for Armenia – Markedonov

YEREVAN, July 11. /ARKA/. Expert at Center for Strategic and International Studies (Washington, D.C.) Sergey Markedonov said cooperation with CSTO will not create any insurmountable obstacles for Armenia to partner with NATO, Novosti-Armenia reports.

“I think the cooperation with the CSTO doesn’t create any insurmountable obstacles, but it makes stay circumspect. On the one hand it is clear that CSTO cannot compete with NATO in resources and other things. We know that the United States has concerns that by cooperating with CIS Russia wants to restore its domination. There are also concerns around cooperation within CSTO, but it will not create any principal incongruity,”Markedonov said in the online interview with Novosti-Armenia agency, organized in Caucasian journalists’ net.

While taking part in NATO peacekeeping operations Armenia gets the same as from the cooperation with the Alliance in general, he added.

“Armenia doesn’t want to see Azerbaijani positions dominating in NATO. Presence of Armenia and Azerbaijan makes NATO more diversified and accurate,” Markedonov states.

Azerbaijan’s interests are the same as those of Armenia- to gain levers of influence in the international organizations, according to the expert. Moreover, failing cooperation with Russia in the conflict with Abkhazia and South Ossetia Georgia started considering NATO as a counterweight to Russia.

“Pragmatic factor lies on the base of each case. I don’t really believe such things as human rights, democracy level play very important role here as some common values,” Markedonov noted.

Interview with experts, analysts and political figures is organized for journalists from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia within “Security in South Caucasus and NATO” project. The project of Research Center Region (Armenia) is supported by Public Diplomacy Department of NATO. —0--