Seminar on defense reforms to be held in Yerevan

ArmRadio.am
02.02.2007 10:35

Armenia is exploring defense reform to develop improved cooperation
and interoperability with NATO during a seminar in Yerevan 5 ` 7
February.

The Armenian Ministry of Defense, is co-organizing the seminar with
the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies at the
request of the US European Command’s Office of Defense Cooperation in
Yerevan. The Ministry plans to advance its transformation efforts
during the event, which is entitled Armenian Defense Reforms I:
Seminar on the Civilianization of the Ministry of Defense and Amending
the Law on Defense.

This step follows the establishment of Armenia’s Individual
Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) in December 2005. In that plan Armenia
committed to transforming its armed forces personnel management and
civilianizing its Ministry of Defense staff. Parallel to these
reforms, Armenia has set a goal to amend its 1997 Law on Defense to
support the civilianization and transformation processes. An interim
evaluation of Armenia’s progress was conducted in May 2006, and a full
evaluation is scheduled for the spring of this year.

Organizers expect about 60 participants at the seminar. In addition to
staff members and experts from the Ministry of Defense and General
Staff, organizers expect representatives from the National Assembly of
Armenia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as other ministries
and agencies. Speakers will come from NATO and countries that have
already gained NATO membership, such as Estonia, Latvia, and Bulgaria.
International defense and legal experts from several NATO countries
will also attend.