Armenia promises to strengthen cooperation with NATO, military official says

.c The Associated Press

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) – Armenia intends to strengthen its cooperation
with NATO in coming years, a top Armenian military official said
Tuesday.

Lt. Gen. Artur Agabekyan, deputy defense minister, said Armenia could
participate in as many as seven alliance training operations in 2005.

“Relations between Armenia and NATO are developing through constantly
widening methods,” said Agabekyan, speaking at a meeting of NATO’s
military committee. The committee is a panel of senior officers from
the 26 allies that reviews the alliance’s military policy.

Officials from some 40 alliance countries and partner countries –
including former Soviet republics Georgia and Ukraine – are attending
the meeting in the Armenian capital. Armenia’s neighbor and foe,
Azerbaijan, is also an active participant in NATO programs, but
refused to attend the meeting in Yerevan.

The expansion of Armenian ties with NATO is being watched warily by
Russia, which has expressed concern about the western alliance
extending its influence into former Soviet countries.

12/14/04 10:22 EST