On May 12, the session of the North-Atlantic Council within 28+1 format took place at NATO headquarters in Brussels. The Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan, as well as representatives of NATO 28 member-states participated at the session.

During the session, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense delivered speeches.

Foreign Minister Nalbandian touched upon the different areas of Armenia-NATO cooperation, Armenia’s foreign policy priorities, the process of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations and the possibilities of settlement of the Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) issue, as well as issues concerning the regional security and stability. In his speech, the Defense Minister of Armenia presented the reforms being implemented in the security sphere and defense system and their perspectives.

At the session of the North-Atlantic Council the NATO Deputy Secretary General, as well as representatives of 14 member-states delivered speeches. They highly appreciated the results of implementation of the Individual Partnership Action Plan, the reforms being carried out in Armenia, Armenia’s participation in peacekeeping operations in Kosovo and Afghanistan.

Afterwards, Ministers Nalbandian and Ohanyan answered many questions concerning the country’s foreign policy, regional developments, and reforms being implemented in Armenia in different areas.

On behalf of their countries, the Ambassadors of NATO member-states expressed support for Armenia’s steps aimed at the establishment of peace, stability and security in the South Caucasus region.

Before the session of the North-Atlantic Council, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense of Armenia Edward Nalbandian and Seyran Ohanyan had a meeting with NATO Deputy Secretary General Claudio Bisogniero. In the course of the meeting, Armenia-NATO cooperation within the framework of the Partnership for Peace Programme and Individual Partnership Action Plan was discussed.

Ministers Nalbandian and Ohanyan reaffirmed Armenia’s determination to continue mutually beneficial cooperation with NATO.

The Deputy Secretary General of the North-Atlantic Alliance highly appreciated the progress fixed in the cooperation with Armenia. Claudio Bisogniero also thanked Armenia for its effective participation in the peacekeeping operation in Afghanistan.