Armenia Claims It Will Not Try for EU or NATO Membership
Tuesday, July 24, 2007 1:24 PM
Armenian President Robert Kocharian has stated that his country will not be applying to join the EU or NATO. Kocharian claimed that concerning the EU he was being “realistic,” and that joining NATO would do little to strengthen national security and would only harm Armenia’s relations with other neighboring countries. Analysts believe that diplomatic relations with Russia and trade relations with Iran are currently Armenia’s largest concern. Public opinion in the country is quite divided on the issue. A poll organized by the U.S. Agency for International Development and the International Republican Institute recently found that 40 percent of the population think Armenia should "definitely" or "probably" join NATO, and 45 percent said it "definitely" or "probably" should not. However, 80 percent of Armenians were found to favor EU membership. Compiled from: “Armenia Says Not Aiming For NATO, EU Membership,” Radio Free Europe, 16 July 2007.