Armenia’s Foreign Minister: We do not intend to join NATO
Ararat Mirzoyan, Armenia’s Foreign Minister, stated that Yerevan seeks to strengthen relations with the US and the EU but has no intention of joining NATO.
In an interview with the news portal Todos Noticias, published on Sunday, Mirzoyan expressed that ‘We cooperate with NATO and have participated in peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan and are strengthening our presence in Kosovo.’
He added, ‘These collaborations are official. Regarding joining NATO, I must say no, this issue is not on Armenia’s agenda.’
Armenia’s Foreign Minister emphasized, ‘Regarding relations with the European Union, I must say that Yerevan leans towards Europe. I would like to refer to the recent statements by Nikol Pashinyan, Armenia’s Prime Minister, in the European Parliament, where he said the EU, to whatever extent it desires to get closer to Armenia, Yerevan is equally ready to get closer to the EU.’
He added, ‘These collaborations are official. Regarding joining NATO, I must say no, this issue is not on Armenia’s agenda.’
Armenia’s Foreign Minister emphasized, ‘Regarding relations with the European Union, I must say that Yerevan leans towards Europe. I would like to refer to the recent statements by Nikol Pashinyan, Armenia’s Prime Minister, in the European Parliament, where he said the EU, to whatever extent it desires to get closer to Armenia, Yerevan is equally ready to get closer to the EU.’