ARMENIAN PARTICIPATION IN NATO INITIAL

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