Tigran Torosian: Time to Discuss Real Issues with Ukraine

TIGRAN TOROSIAN: IT’S TIME TO PUT NOT DISSENTING OPINIONS BUT
GENERALITIES IN BASIS OF ARMENIAN-UKRAINIAN RELATIONS

YEREVAN, MAY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. Not only the long-lasting friednship and
the Soviet past but also many problems which the two countries solve
today, particularly, issues of the being implemented reforms and
modernization of the Ar med Forces, tie Armenia and Ukraine. RA
National Assembly Deputy Speaker Tigran Torosian said about it on May
24, receiving the delegation headed by Colonel General Sergey
Kirichenko, the Chief of the Armed Forces General Staff of Ukraine.
Tigran Torosian attached importance to the visit of the delegation
headed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff’s Chief and
meetings in Armenia from the viewpoint of both bilateral and regional
relations. Of course, armies must interfere into the policy, but, as
the NA Deputy Speaker emphasized, parliaments’ and armies’ cooperation
is simply necessary. He mentioned that Armenia and Ukraine have
different viewpoints in some issues, but it’s the time to put not
dissenting opinions but generalities in the basis of the relations.
Particularly, Ukraine is going to join the NATO, Armenia chose another
way of deepening relations with the North Atlanting Alliance, but it
does not mean that there are no possibilities of cooperation in this
direction. Sergey Kirichenko mentioned some spheres of cooperation of
the two countries’ Armed Forces: military, military-technic, staff
re-training, joint military exercises, implementation of peace-keeping
missions. He attached importance to the Parliaments’ assistance in the
issue of the country’s defence and Armed Forces’ fighting ability. As
Noyan Tapan was informed by the NA Public Relations Department,
strengthening of peace and the great role of national armies in that
process were bilaterally attached importance to at the meeting as as
much efficient and strong the army is, as protected and strong the
peace is, as great the guarantee of preventing war and human tragedies
is. Mikayel Haroutiunian, the Chief of the RA Armed Forces
Headquarters General, Alexander Bozhko, the Ambassador of Ukraine to
Armenia and other officials participated in the meeting.