"FURTHER IMPROVEMENT OF INTEROPERABILITY WILL INCREASE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARMENIAN FORCES TO MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS TO NATO-LED PEACE SUPPORT OPERATIONS", ROBERT SIMMONS STATED

Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
May 21 2007

Yerevan, May 21. /Mediamax/. Special Representative of the NATO
Secretary General in Central Asia and the South Caucasus Robert Simmons
stated in an exclusive interview to Mediamax that "with a newly elected
Parliament we also need to focus on improving the capabilities of
the legislature to exercise strong and effective oversight of the
defense and security sectors".

Robert Simmons noted that "the IPAP is a comprehensive programme that
covers many areas, with a strong focus on the defense and security
sectors".

"We are now at a stage where the next steps will need to be taken
towards a Strategic Defense Review, including the formulation of a
Military Doctrine. Defense Planning and Budgeting are key issues,
as is the introduction of more civilians into the Ministry of Defense.

And, of course, the further improvement of interoperability to increase
the opportunities for Armenian forces to make contributions to NATO-led
peace support operations is a key priority. We also need to continue
to improve the way in which various government agencies work together,
in particular in such areas as crisis management and the fight against
terrorism", the Special Representative of the NATO Secretary General
stated in an interview to Mediamax.

"With a newly elected Parliament we also need to focus on improving
the capabilities of the legislature to exercise strong and effective
oversight of the defense and security sectors. In short, there is
still much on our plate and defense reform, democratic institution
building and strengthening of the rule of law need to continue. We
will continue our support to Armenia on these and many other issues, as
set out in the IPAP", Robert Simmons stated in an exclusive interview
to Mediamax.