DEFENSE MINISTER SEYRAN OHANIAN DISCUSSES COOPERATION WITH FRANCE’S AMBASSADOR SERGE SMESSOW
ARMENPRESS
JUNE 25
Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian received today France’s ambassador
Serge Smessow. Colonel Seyran Shahsuvarian, spokesman for the Defense
Ministry, told Armenpress that the ambassador congratulated Ohanian
on having taken as minister expressing also hope that Armenian-French
relations will deepen further during Ohanian’s tenure.
Speaking about deepening bilateral relationships the minister said
that centuries-long French-Armenian friendship is unprecedented and
important in terms of both government and non-government levels.
Minister Ohanian said that both countries should focus on developing
their military relations in peacekeeping activities saying also that
France’s possible participation in military games slated for autumn
in Armenia will promote development of military relations between
France and Armenia.
In a reference to 2008 military cooperation programs both sides
discussed military medicine, language teaching related issues
expressing hope that the stepped up contacts will lead to signing of
a military cooperation agreement.
The defense minister then thanked the ambassador Smessow for continued
assistance to French language classroom in Vazgen Sarkisian military
academy and for a quota to Armenian cadets for studying at France’s
higher command college.
Serge Smessow for his part said that he appreciates greatly Armenia’s
warm attitude towards France describing bilateral relations as
excellent.
At the end of the meeting the two men discussed also a range of other
issues and exchanged ideas on a set of regional, Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict and other questions.
They stressed the peaceful solution of the conflict saying that France,
as a member of the OSCE Minsk Group, while cooperating militarily
with Azerbaijan and France should maintain parity.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
