Armenian Army to Meet NATO Standards by 2015

PanARMENIAN.Net - The commitments undertaken by Armenia heading toward the European integration are considered in complex: reforms in the defense sector, military planning and budget, RA Deputy Defense Minister, General Lieutenant Artur Aghabekyan stated at the EAPC seminar on "Economic Aspects of Security: Improving Governance of the Defense Sector". In his words the elaboration of the concept of RA national security started this year. "The national doctrine will be ready in 2007, the military one - in 2008. Purchase of new military equipment and training of specialists in accord with the NATO standards will be launched in 2008. Presently two Armenian officers are being trained in the U.S. two more officers will go there next year. Thus, by 2015 our army will meet the NATO standards," Aghabekyan noted.



When touching upon the Armenian-Russian military cooperation Artur Aghabekyan noted that the participation in the Armenia-NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) does not conflict with military relations with Russia. "The national security doctrine will include Armenia's relations with Russia, Turkey and NATO. One does not leave out the other. Armenia proceeds from the situation in the region and the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict," the RA Deputy Defense Minister stated.