Baltic News Service
April 8, 2005
ARMENIA HAS MADE GREAT PROGRESS IN ECONOMIC, DEMOCRATIC REFORMS —
LITHUANIAN DEFENSE MINISTER
VILNIUS
Armenia has made considerable progress in the fields of economy and
democracy and is becoming more and more resolute in declaring its
interest in closer cooperation with the European Union and NATO,
Lithuania’s Defense Minister Gediminas Kirkilas, who visited Armenia
on an official visit this week, has told BNS.
“During meetings with Armenian officials, I saw that they understood
that the Mountain Karabakh problem could hardly be solved without the
participation of the EU and NATO. There is increasing apprehension
that the conflict is hindering Armenia’s international integration,”
Kirkilas said.
There is an ongoing military conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia
over Mountain Karabakh, large Azerbaijan region dominated by ethnic
Armenians. The 1988-1994 war over the disputed territory claimed the
lives of over 35,000 people. There is only a fragile truce between
Armenia and Azerbaijan at the front line in Mountain Karabakh, still
occupied by Armenia.
In Kirkilas’ words, Armenia, just like Lithuania that was creating
its army several years ago, “understands that there is a lack of
knowledge” and therefore is first of all interested in “investing in
people” — training servicemen, reorganizing army management and
planning, properly organizing military education, gaining experience
in international missions.
“I congratulated Armenia which has sent its troops to the mission in
Iraq now that the situation there remains tense and some allies are
withdrawing their forces,” Kirkilas said. Armenia has sent several
dozen drivers, medics and staff officers to the peace operation in
Iraq and is planning to expand its participation in the mission.
In Kirkilas’ words, Yerevan maintains good relations with Russia,
Iran and Georgia.
“A Russian contingent of 5,000 troops has been deployed in Armenia,
which Armenia considers to be one of ‘deterrent factors’,” Kirkilas
said.
During the visit to Yerevan, Kirkilas met with Armenian Prime
Minister Andranik Margaryan, Defense Minister Serzh Sargsyan, Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanyan, parliament officials and the Catholicos of
all Armenians Karekin II.
Kirkilas and Sargsyan signed an agreement on further studies of
Armenian officials at a captain course at the Lithuanian Military
Academy. Since 2003, 4 Armenian officers have attended the captain
course at the LMA. Another 4 Armenian officers are scheduled to
attend the course in Vilnius this year.
For several years, Lithuania’s Defense Ministry has been implementing
an initiative aimed at sharing the Baltic states’ experience in the
military field — armed forces modernization, legal base development
— with South Caucasus countries.
In addition to the LMA captain course, Lithuania pays for the studies
of an Armenian officer at the Baltic Defense College in Tartu,
Estonia.
Armenia has been involved in the Partnership for Peace program since
1994.
Vilnius newsroom, +370 5 2681508, [email protected]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress