Sargis Khandanian on the Possibility of NATO Membership

Armenia expects the international community and countries with leverage to increase pressure on Azerbaijan and prevent further escalation in our region. This was stated today, September 7, during a press briefing with journalists by the Chairman of the National Assembly's Foreign Relations Committee, Sargis Khandanian.

“You know that the situation is quite tense, considering that Azerbaijan is mobilizing additional forces both around Nagorno-Karabakh and near the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. In this situation, we are working with all partners who can use specific levers to pressure Azerbaijan to return to peace negotiations or to be more constructive in those negotiations,” he said.

Commenting on the possibility of Armenia's accession to NATO, Khandanian stated, “Discussions about NATO are often romanticized in our society. There are countries that do not have conflicts, are among the most peaceful in the world, and today face difficulties in joining NATO; how can you imagine Armenia's accession to NATO in the near future? From a technical and political standpoint, I simply do not see the possibility.”

When asked if Armenia has such a desire, he replied, “The Armenian government has never stated that it wants to join NATO; however, you know that there is cooperation with NATO in various fields, especially in the areas of education and other joint initiatives.”