DEFENCE MINISTER AND BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA TO SIGN MEMORANDUM ON
MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING ON SEPT 24

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23. ARMINFO. The Ministry of Defence of the United
Kingdom and the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Armenia have
agreed a Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Contacts and
Co-operation. The aim of the Memorandum is to further strengthen the
good relations which already exist between the two Ministries, and to
serve as a basis for increased co-operation between them in the field
of defence. ARMINFO was informed in Great Britain’s Embassy in
Armenia.

HE Mr Serge Sargsian, the Armenian Minister of Defence, and the
British Ambassador to Armenia, Miss Thorda Abbott-Watt, will sign the
Memorandum in a short ceremony at the Armenian Ministry of Defence in
Yerevan on Friday, 24 September 2004.

Over the last year the United Kingdom has sponsored places for 16
members of the Armenian Armed Forces to conduct a variety of training
courses outside Armenia, including the first Armenian cadet ever to
attend the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. The British Ministry
of Defence also funds English language training through the
Peacekeeping English Programme run by the British Council Armenia in
the Armenian Ministry of Defence. The Memorandum of Understanding
reflects a common recognition that stable and democratic sovereign
states contribute to confidence, stability and security in Europe as a
whole. It will put the existing co-operation programme on a formal
footing, and enable Britain and Armenia to develop further contacts in
areas such as the management of defence in democratic societies,
language training, peace support in humanitarian operations and arms
control.