WESTERN COUNTRIES SUPPORT ARMENIA IN DEFENSE REFORMS

On November 7-9 Needs Presentation Conference was held in Federative Republic of Germany with the participation of South Caucasus countries. Armenia was represented by Deputy Head of RA MOD Defense Policy Department Ara Mesropyan.

First such a conference was organized in 2002 on the initiative of American Forces Command in Europe. Its aim is: to set up a forum where South Caucasian three countries could present their needs in the sphere of defense reforms, where Western countries’ aid is needed. Since 2005 the Western countries started to stipulate such aid in their state budgets, and the initiative got a practical significance.

This year Armenia presented five spheres which are priority for her: 1) education, 2) human resources system reforms, 3) interconnection of Armenia’s military industry with the military industry system of the West, 4) development of sergeants program, 5) defense planning, programming, budgeting and introduction of control experience. Four from the five points already have got support offers.

Shoushan Stepanyan