ARMENIAN PARTICIPATION IN NATO INITIAL

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000068 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN ESIDEREAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PARM PGOV AM AJ SUBJECT: ARMENIAN PARTICIPATION IN NATO INITIAL PLANNING CONFERENCE IN AZERBAIJAN ¶1. (SBU) After a week of to-and-fro discussions over Armenian participation in the Initial Planning Conference for NATO Partnership for Peace exercise Cooperative Best Effort 2004 in Baku, Azerbaijan agreed to grant plane-side visas to two Armenian military officers to allow participation in the conference. Azerbaijan also intends to allow two Armenian officials to participate in the actual exercise in an observer status, but not as participants. In response to this announcement, the Armenian Ministry of Defense that it would send two officers to Baku for the conference. ¶2. (SBU) Throughout this process the Armenian Ministry of Defense remained steadfast in its intent to participate in the Initial Planning Conference and is likely to press for participant status in Cooperative Best Effort 2004, rather than accept the more limited observer status. Armenia views participation in NATO exercises a boost to its relations with NATO countries. After hosting Cooperative Best Effort 2003 and agreeing to allow its traditional rivals, Turkey and Azerbaijan, to participate in the exercise, Armenia wishes show NATO countries that it is willing to cooperate on issues of regional security. WALKER