Cooperative Longbow/Lancer 2008 planning conference opened in Yerevan

PanARMENIAN.Net - A planning conference on Cooperative Longbow/Lancer 2008 NATO exercise opened in Yerevan today, bringing together 110 representatives from 20 states.



"Conduction of maneuvers in Armenia has become a tradition. Best Effort exercise was held in 2003, it was followed by Rescuer in 2006 and Combined Endeavor in 2006. With its extent and number of participants, Cooperative Longbow/Lancer exercise will be the major in the South Caucasus," RA Armed Forces General Staff Chief Seyran Ohanyan said in his opening remarks. "The purpose of the exercise is cooperation in the security sector and exchange of experience."



"Azerbaijan refused to participate in the maneuvers although an invitation had been sent," he added.



For his part, Brigade General Claudio Ernesto Vercellotti said preparation works were launched in late 2007. "The conference targets at raising awareness of our requirements and needs. The participants are aspired to conduct the maneuvers on a level with the highest standards," he said.



On October 23, 2007 the Supreme Allied Command Europe complied with Armenia's request for conduction of maneuvers in the framework of NATO Partnership for Peace program.