MEETING IN THE COMMITTEE

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
Nov 13 2007

On November 12 Mr. Artur Aghabekyan, Chairman of the Standing Committee
on Defense, National Security and Internal Affairs of the National
Assembly received Mr. Juozas Olekas, Minister of National Defence of
the Republic of Lithuania.

During the talk both sides highlighted the exchange of experience and
cooperation within the framework of the program of the NATO Individual
Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) between the two countries.

The Chairman of the Standing Committee, Mr. Artur Aghabekyan
presented the amendments made in the defence system, touching upon
the legislative reforms. The Chairman of the NA Committee said that in
the result of the legislative reforms it is envisaged to have a civil
service in the system, to create an opportunity of civil control,
to have a law on Defence and so forth. Mr. Artur Aghabekyan also
talked about budgeting activity and military justice, considering
the experience of Baltic countries useful and instructive in all
the spheres.

Mr. Juozas Olekas, Minister of National Defence of the Republic of
Lithuania expressed readiness of experience exchange, adding that the
Committee on Defense of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania
and the Armenian-Lithuanian Friendship Group will be included in that
work. During the meeting the sides talked about the united model
of the Defence Ministry, according to which the main headquarters
is a part of the Ministry. Now, this system is yet in the stage of
formation in Lithuania.

Mr. Artur Aghabekyan thanked the guests for the contribution of
Lithuania in the field of defence, including the training of the
Armenian officers in the Baltic college and making them high-qualified
specialists.