WELCOMING SPEECH

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29.09 .08

TO BE DELIVERED BY MR S. OHANYAN, MINISTER OF DEFENCE OF THE REPUBLIC
OF ARMENIA FOR OPENING CEREMONY OF COOPERATIVE LONGBOW/LANCER EXERCISES

Dear Generals, officers Distinguished guests Dear participants of
the exercises

Cooperative Longbow/Cooperative Lancer exercises are commencing in
Yerevan today. I think, that it is unnecessary once again to stress
their significance, importance and contemporaneity. The format of
exercises and wide geography of the present participants are evidence
of that.

Soldiers from 17 members of the NATO, Partnership for Peace and
Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, as well as different structures of
the NATO are here today. Notwithstanding these variance, they are
preparing to accomplish their tasks jointly, as one team, during the
exercises. In this relation, I could only express my regret, that
our neighbouring countries, participants of EAPC, due to different
reasons do not participate. Unfortunately, once again it demonstrates
us, that the security situation in the South Caucasus is fragile.

I would like to assure you that the peace and stability are important
values for Armenia. In this regard, we view these exercises as an
important confidence building measure in the region.

Every time Armenia hosts any international exercise such as within the
frameworks of Collective Security Treaty Organisation, Partnership for
Peace or the US European Command we do this with great willingness,
put all efforts for holding these events at the highest level.

I would like to mention that exercises pursue only the following goal –
to raise interoperability capabilities of all of us as high as possible
through practical testing, improve their realisation mechanisms,
gain experience and train units, which are engaged in exercises.

This goal is reiterated by the Republic of Armenia, as a full member
of international community, through readiness to fulfil its commitments
in ensuring international security.

Nearly two years passed from a moment, when Armenia has applied
for hosting a joint exercise in Armenia in 2008. During the whole
period of preparation the organizers of the exercises have placed
efforts for respectively running the study of sites, three planning
conferences and all preparation activities in Armenia. Now we witness
the result of these excellent activities. Taking this opportunity,
I would like to express our deepest gratitude to the organizers of
this event: NATO`s Heidelberg Headquarters, the representatives of
different structures and partner nations and, of course those units
of the Ministry of defence, which are engaged in these activities.

Indeed, I would like to express my confidence, that the exercises
will be on a high level and the participants will take with them
an additional experience, skills and knowledge, in order to make
practically use of them in case of necessity. At the same time I do
hope you will have the chance to make you familiar with the culture
of Armenia and hospitality of the Armenian people, while you are here.

Stating the beginning of Cooperative Longbow/Lancer 2008 exercises
within frameworks of Partnership for Peace, I wish all the participants
fruitful activities and success.