MFA PRESENTS FACT SHEET ON ARMENIA-NATO COOPERATION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YEREVAN 001002

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SUBJECT: MFA PRESENTS FACT SHEET ON ARMENIA-NATO COOPERATION


1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.

2. (SBU) The Head of the NATO Division at the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Hrachia Tashchian, presented us with the
Ministry's "Fact Sheet on Cooperation of Armenia with NATO
and its Participation in the Partnership for Peace
Programme." Tashchian told us that Foreign Minister
Oskanian believed that increased cooperation with NATO
should be one of the highest priorities of Armenian foreign
policy. Tashchian said that he had been tasked with
developing further plans for increased NATO engagement, and
had prepared the document as an initial briefing for
diplomats, parliamentarians, and government officials.

3. (SBU) Begin text of MFA document:

Fact Sheet on Cooperation of Armenia with NATO and its
Participation in the Partnership for Peace Programme

Armenia is an active NATO partner. In 2003, high-
ranking NATO officials praised Armenia as the most
improved nation in terms of dynamics of partnership
and cooperation. Most Armenia-NATO activities fall
under the Partnership for Peace programme.

Main Armenia-NATO agreements include:

- In October 2002, Armenia joined the Planning and
Review Process (PARP) programme, in which 21
countries participate today. Armenia participates in
PARP with one motorized infantry battalion, as well
as one combat engineer platoon, three combat support
platoons, one NBC detection team, one logistic
company, and one medical platoon.

- In 2003, Armenia made a decision to participate in
NATO-led peacekeeping operation in Kosovo (KFOR).
Since February 2004, a platoon of thirty-four
peacekeepers from the Armenian Armed Forces is
operating as part of the Greek forces of the U.S.-led
multinational brigade in KFOR.

- Armenia has taken a decision to participate in
peacekeeping and reconstruction in Iraq by allocating
forces to the military contingent headed by Poland
and operating with NATO assistance. Armenia is
planning the deployment of a transport platoon, and
one team of de-mining engineers, and a medical unit
to Iraq during 2004.

- In 2003, Armenia signed the PfP Status of forces
Agreement (SOFA),which was ratified by the National
Assembly of Armenia 30 March 2004.

Each year, Armenia participates in several events
within the PfP framework, including military
exercises, training programmes and seminars. Some
highlights include the following:

- In 2003, Armenia host the NATO Cooperative Best
Effort 2003 Military Exercises, in which 19 states
participated.

- Armenia intends to participate in the NATO
Cooperative Best Effort 2004 Military Exercises to be
hosted by Azerbaijan in September 2004.

- In 2000-2003, Armenia hosted three international
seminars organized by NATO, in which representatives
from 25 ally and partner states participated. An
October 2002 seminar, Fight Against International
Terrorism: Perspectives for Regional Cooperation, was
the largest seminar organized by NATO in the Southern
Caucasus.

- In 2000-2003, Armenian non-governmental
organizations held a dozen NATO sponsored seminars
and workshops aimed at promoting civil society in
Armenia, as well as disseminating reliable
information on the role and policies of NATO and
generating open debate about the security in the
region of the Southern Caucasus.

- Armenian scientific establishments and individual
scientists are active participants of the NATO
Science Programme. Computer networking programme
"Virtual Silk Highway"- the most significant project
launched by NATO in the Southern Caucasus- has been
implementing in Armenia since January of 2003.

Armenia maintains a regular high-level dialogue with
NATO, specifically:

- Between 2001-2003, the NATO Secretary=General
visited Armenia twice and the Armenia President
visited NATO headquarters twice.

- NATO-Armenia individual consultations have been
held annually since 2001 between the delegations
headed by NATO's Assistant Secretary-General and
Armenia's Deputy Foreign minister.

Armenia has recently appointed a Military
Representative to NATO. He will start performing his
duties on 1 May 2004. In addition, Armenia's
President has approved the appointment of an
Ambassador specifically to NATO. This appointment is
expected in mid-2004. Until then, Armenia's
ambassador to the EU will continue to maintain his
NATO portfolio, through Armenia's Mission to NATO.

Armenia attaches great importance to the
establishment of individual relations with NATO
seeking its support and advice in reforming and
modernizing defense and security systems.
Participation in the Individual Partnership Action
Plan (IPAP) is being considered as the most relevant
mechanism to reach this goal. In this regard,
Armenia intends to start negotiations on the
elaboration of Armenia's IPAP shortly after the
submission of the official application, which is
expected in the near future.

End text.
WALKER