NATO wants to increase its presence in South Caucasus

NATO wants to increase its presence in South Caucasus, NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative James Appathurai said in Yerevan.

Asked about the recent statement by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry saying they are ready to attack an Armenian facility which will threaten Armenia’s existence, Appathurai said he had not seen the comment and cannot comment on specific issues.

«The Secretary General visited three countries recently. He left concerned at the tone between the two countries,» he added. «t is very important for the two countries to get back on the right track when it comes to security. The two foreign ministers recently met in Paris , which is a good sign, but a meeting is not progress, it is a step towards progress. From the NATO point of view we should see an improvement in relations.»

U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern was not aware of the threat either. «The U.S. is one of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group. At every opportunity we are pushing to tone down the rhetoric and come back to the table. We are pleased that ministers met and we continue to push for a peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict and improvement of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan,» Heffern said.

Adapted from vestnikkavkaza.net