YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)-Armenian-Greek bilateral cooperation aims first of all at establishing stability and security in the region.
That opinion was voiced at a meeting between Armenia’s Prime Minister Robert Kocharian and Greek delegation led by Defense Minister of Greece Akis Tsokhadzopulos.
The necessity to ensure and strengthen regional security the sides spoke of the peaceful solution to the Karabakh problem and shifts in solving the problem of Cyprus.
They shared opinions on the development of Armenia-Greek cooperation in military sphere–European security system and settlement of the crisis in Balkans.
The meeting was attended by Defense Minister of Armenia Vazgen Sargssian–Armenia’s Ambassador to Greece Armen Kirakossian–his Greek counterpart Jakovos Spetsios.
At a news conference Armenia’s Defense Minister and his Greek counterpart Akis Tsokhadzopulos voiced satisfaction over the results of the joint work.
Sargssian particularly said that this work is not aimed against any third country and must promote unification of European countries through no bloc but establishment of a system of cooperation among European states both on governmental and regional levels. "We are forming a structure of balanced cooperation both with CIS states and within the new European security model," Vazgen Sargssian said.
The importance of establishing new collective security institutes today was emphasized by Tsokhadzopulos as well. Greece–according to him–speaks for EU’s eastward enlargement–for involvement of new countries in a single European economic area. And in this sense–Greece–according to him–views NATO today as a field for new initiatives aimed at establishing new organizations of common security and cooperation. Those initiatives–according to Greek Minister–will contribute to the development of cooperation and represents a new global security system. Tsokhadzopulos said that during the talks they discussed destabilizing factors in the Balkans and Transcaucasus. He noted that they discussed the problem of Cyprus and Turkey’s refusal to settle that conflict. Turkey disputes and casts doubt on the status quo in that region and principles of international law. "The answer to these destabilizing factors is the following: first of all–it is necessary to mobilize all forces of international organizations–in order to condemn all attempts of this kind; secondly–to strengthen the armed forces–because only powerful defense serves as a guarantee for security in the region," said Tsokhadzopulos.
The Greek minister noted that from these very positions they considered the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The international community–according to him–is not always guided by the principles of international law and justice in its decisions–often applying the policy of double standards. "Basing on these estimations–we discussed the issues of extending cooperation between our countries.
