ARMENIA, GREAT BRITAIN WILLING TO DEEPEN MILITARY COOPERATION

armradio.am
21.07.2008 16:24

On July 21 RA Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan received the Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Great Britain to Armenia Charles
Lonsdale.

At the beginning of the meeting Seyran Ohanyan stated that Great
Britain is one of the pivotal countries of the European Union with
traditional democratic values and customs, with which the Defense
Ministry of Armenia will continue cooperating in the sphere of defense.

Seyran Ohanyan noted also that Armenia has entered a qualitatively
new phase of relations with Europe and that serious steps are being
taken to have the military cooperation with European countries reach
a proper level.

During the meeting the Minister noted that Armenia expressed
willingness to develop cooperation especially in the field of
peacekeeping, contributing to the operation in Afghanistan, where
Great Britain has deployed a contingent of about 8 500. He added that
taking into consideration that active reforms are currently underway
in the Armed Forces of Armenia, the military cooperation with the
above-mentioned countries is important.

Seyran Ohanyan said to be appreciative of the active participation
of representatives of the Armed Forces of Great Britain in the
Cooperative Longbow/Lancer 08 military exercises to be held in Armenia
in September-October of the current year, stressing that participation
in such events contributes to the development of collaboration between
the armed forces of the two countries.

The parties discussed the current state of bilateral relations in
the military sphere issues of further deepening of those.

At the end of the meeting Seyran Ohanyan expressed gratitude to the
British Government for the assistance rendered so far.