Armenian president: April War and ongoing cannonades are the best  evidence of Karabakh conflict resuming

ArmInfo.Armenia- NATO relations based on clearly understood interests and necessity, have a pretty rich agenda and include both the political dialogue  at the  highest level and multiple examples of practical cooperation. 

According to the information shared with ArmInfo at the press office  of Armenian President, the  President of Armenia stated that during  joint press conference with  NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.  He reminded that this year marks the 25th anniversary of Armenia's  cooperation with the North Atlantic Alliance. It was a quarter of a  century ago, in 1992, when the newly-independent Armenia joined to  the North Atlantic Cooperation Council, laying the foundation for  establishing partnership relations with the NATO

 The President reminded also  that four Armenia-NATO Individual  Partnership Action Plans have been successfully implemented and  currently the fifth plan for 2017-2019 is in the stage of approval.  We emphasized the importance of the upcoming launch of the activities  of the NATO Trust Fund in Armenia.  Sargsyan also invited NATO   Secretary General to visit Armenia, which will provide a very good  opportunity to sum up what have been done over these 25 years and to  outline our future activities.

 Armenia continues its important contribution to the collective  efforts aimed at establishing international peace and stability,  thereby turning from a security consumer into a security provider.  While facing serious security threats, Armenia makes its input to the  security and stability in various parts of the world by realizing  full well to which extend the world is interconnected today and that  there are no longer security challenges of individual states. They  challenge both the individual countries and everyone. I would like to  commend that by developing its peacekeeping capacities as a result of  the Armenia-NATO cooperation, during the recent years Armenia has  extended the geography of its engagement. Along with our involvement  in Kosovo and Afghanistan today our servicemen also participate in  the missions in Lebanon and Mali being carried out under the aegis of  the UN. Hence,  Armenia is assessed by the Alliance and its member  states as an "active partner of the NATO".

Armenian President said also he is proud with Armenian  servicemen  who  are assessed as well prepared, disciplined and responsible  participants of these missions. I am convinced that our servicemen  will use the international experience and capacities acquired within  the framework of peacekeeping missions for our army-building. 

 Parties also  touched upon the most explosive security challenge of  our region - the recent developments on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.  In this context I attached great importance to the support of the  NATO and Mr. Stoltenberg personally to the mediation efforts of the  OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs aimed at the peaceful settlement of the  Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. 

 "The April war, followed by continuous regular shootings with the  use of heavy artillery and military equipment demonstrate that this  conflict is an "active" one and today more than ever it is essential  that the international community unite around a civilized settlement  by supporting the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs countries  towards the peaceful settlement. We noted that according to  "Partnership for Peace" program's framework document, "The protection  and strengthening of fundamental freedoms and human rights, ensuring  freedom and justice, and establishment of peace through democracy are  key common values for the partnership" President said. 

 In conclusion, Armenian President reaffirmed  the commitment of the  Republic of Armenia to continue to set an active positive agenda with  the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and its member states for the  further consolidation of international peace and security. Serzh  Sargsyan also expressed  hope that the  next meeting with the NATO  leaders will take place in Yerevan.