Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
December 20, 2004, Monday

ARMENIA STRENGTHENING COOPERATION WITH NATO

Armenian servicemen plan to participate in eight joint exercises with
NATO in 2005. Lieutenant-General Arthur Agabekyan, Armenian Deputy
Defense Minister, stated at a meeting of the working group of NATO’s
military committee in Yerevan: “This year Armenia has participated
in five joint exercises with NATO; next year we will take part in
eight exercises.”

According to him, the republic’s plan of individual partnership
with NATO will be announced next year. Arthur Agabekyan stated:
“Armenia is guided by long-term plans for its security.”

Representatives of over 30 countries, which are members and partners
of the alliance, attended the meeting of NATO’s military committee.
It is intended to hold a similar meeting in Tbilisi. Originally, it was
intended to hold the meeting in the capitals of three South-Caucasian
states. However, Azerbaijan refused to let Armenian servicemen attend
the meeting, which is why the meeting in Baku was cancelled.

Source: Krasnaya Zvezda, December 16, 2004, p. 3

Translated by Alexander Dubovoi