THE MEETINGS OF THE RA MINISTER OF DEFENCE SEYRAN OHANYAN IN PARIS

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11.02 .10

On the 10th of February, 2010 the RA Minister of Defence Seyran Ohanyan
met the Minister of Defence of France Mr. Eghve Moghen. After the talk
of the heads of the defence departments of the two countries a broader
discussion between the delegations was held. The two sides discussed
matters of mutual interest, came up with ideas about the regional,
European and international challenges, talked about the work done in
the frames of the Armenian-French defence cooperation and discussed
the prospects for cooperation. The RA Minister of Defence invited
his French colleague to make an official visit to Armenia.

After the discussions the ministers of defence of the two countries
signed an agreement about the Armenian-French bilateral defence
cooperation, which will become a legal base for implementing military
cooperation between the two countries.

During the official reception organized after the signing ceremony
the ministers of defence of Armenia and France made speeches. Seyran
Ohanyan and E. Moghen underlined the importance of the official
visit of the RA Minister of Defence to France and the signing of the
cooperation document. They have noted the role of the French-Armenians
in the process of developing defence cooperation between the two
countries. On the same day the RA Minister of Defence was received
by Gi Tesien – the president of the permanent committee for Security,
Defence and Internal Affairs under the National Assembly of France.

They discussed the reforms in the defence sphere, the importance of
developing mechanisms for civil and legal control over the armed
forces, and they exchanged ideas about the challenges of regional
security. On the 10th of February, in the frames of the visit, the
RA Minister of Defence visited one of the most ancient and advanced
military institutions -the Joint Defence College of France. Here the
higher educational system of the French Armed Forces and the teaching
methodology were introduced to the Armenian delegation.

On the 10th of February the RA Minister of Defence also visited St.

Hovhannes Mkrtich (Hovhannes the Baptist) cathedral in Paris where he
met the clergymen and some representatives of the Armenian community
in France. In his greeting speech Seyran Ohanyan underlined the
importance of the role of belief and the Armenian Apostolic Church in
the process of the RA army-building and training and educating the
martial spirit of the militants. Then Seyran Ohanyan put a garland
at the memorial of Komitas. On the same day, with the participation
of the Armenian delegation, garlands were ceremonially put at Mont
Valerieni memorial commemorating the warriors that fell for freedom
and independence during the Second World War.