Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04YEREVAN772
2004-03-31 12:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Yerevan
Cable title:  

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY RATIFIES NATO PFP SOFA

Tags:  MARR PGOV PREL AM 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS YEREVAN 000772 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR PGOV PREL AM
SUBJECT: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY RATIFIES NATO PFP SOFA

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000772

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR PGOV PREL AM
SUBJECT: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY RATIFIES NATO PFP SOFA


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


2. (SBU) The Armenian National Assembly ratified the
NATO Partnership for Peace (PfP) Status of Forces
Agreement (SOFA) March 31. The GOAM signed the
agreement on October 28, 2003. Under Armenian law, the
agreement goes into effect with no further Presidential
action necessary. In a meeting with us today, Defense
Minister Serge Sargsyan noted that the SOFA
ratification was an important step for Armenia's
increased cooperation with NATO and further
participation in PfP activities.


3. (SBU) Comment: The GOAM clearly considers the
signing and ratification of the SOFA agreement as a
significant step towards strengthening its defense
cooperation ties with NATO and the United States.
Along with the SOFA ratification, Armenia hosted the
Cooperative Best Effort 03 exercises in June 2003 and
deployed peacekeepers to NATO's KFOR operation in
Kosovo, and MOD sources told us March 30 that they are
on track to ratify the Acquisition Cross-Servicing
Agreement (ACSA) as well.


4. (SBU) Despite the recent murder of an Armenian
officer at a PfP training program in Budapest and the
continued dispute with Azerbaijan over Armenia's level
of attendance at the Cooperate Best Effort 04
exercises, both the MFA and MOD have maintained that
Armenia is intent on further integrating into Euro-
Atlantic security structures. The GOAM insists that
there is no contradiction in Armenia's foreign and
security policies, as the country can maintain strong
defense relations with Russia while enhancing its
cooperation with NATO. The signing and ratification of
the NATO PfP SOFA signals continued willingness,
according to Deputy Foreign Minister Tatul Margarian,
to take Armenia's relations with NATO from "zero to
respected partner."
WALKER