US embassy cable - 04YEREVAN1002

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YEREVAN 001002 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN ESIDEREAS 
 
E.O. 12598: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PARM, PGOV, AM 
SUBJECT: MFA PRESENTS FACT SHEET ON ARMENIA-NATO COOPERATION 
 
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Please protect 
accordingly. 
2. (SBU) The Head of the NATO Division at the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs, Hrachia Tashchian, presented us with the 
Ministry's "Fact Sheet on Cooperation of Armenia with NATO 
and its Participation in the Partnership for Peace 
Programme."  Tashchian told us that Foreign Minister 
Oskanian believed that increased cooperation with NATO 
should be one of the highest priorities of Armenian foreign 
policy.  Tashchian said that he had been tasked with 
developing further plans for increased NATO engagement, and 
had prepared the document as an initial briefing for 
diplomats, parliamentarians, and government officials. 
3. (SBU) Begin text of MFA document: 
 
Fact Sheet on Cooperation of Armenia with NATO and its 
Participation in the Partnership for Peace Programme 
 
Armenia is an active NATO partner.  In 2003, high- 
ranking NATO officials praised Armenia as the most 
improved nation in terms of dynamics of partnership 
and cooperation.  Most Armenia-NATO activities fall 
under the Partnership for Peace programme. 
 
Main Armenia-NATO agreements include: 
 
- In October 2002, Armenia joined the Planning and 
Review Process (PARP) programme, in which 21 
countries participate today.  Armenia participates in 
PARP with one motorized infantry battalion, as well 
as one combat engineer platoon, three combat support 
platoons, one NBC detection team, one logistic 
company, and one medical platoon. 
 
- In 2003, Armenia made a decision to participate in 
NATO-led peacekeeping operation in Kosovo (KFOR). 
Since February 2004, a platoon of thirty-four 
peacekeepers from the Armenian Armed Forces is 
operating as part of the Greek forces of the U.S.-led 
multinational brigade in KFOR. 
 
- Armenia has taken a decision to participate in 
peacekeeping and reconstruction in Iraq by allocating 
forces to the military contingent headed by Poland 
and operating with NATO assistance.  Armenia is 
planning the deployment of a transport platoon, and 
one team of de-mining engineers, and a medical unit 
to Iraq during 2004. 
 
- In 2003, Armenia signed the PfP Status of forces 
Agreement (SOFA), which was ratified by the National 
Assembly of Armenia 30 March 2004. 
 
Each year, Armenia participates in several events 
within the PfP framework, including military 
exercises, training programmes and seminars.  Some 
highlights include the following: 
 
- In 2003, Armenia host the NATO Cooperative Best 
Effort 2003 Military Exercises, in which 19 states 
participated. 
 
- Armenia intends to participate in the NATO 
Cooperative Best Effort 2004 Military Exercises to be 
hosted by Azerbaijan in September 2004. 
 
- In 2000-2003, Armenia hosted three international 
seminars organized by NATO, in which representatives 
from 25 ally and partner states participated.  An 
October 2002 seminar, Fight Against International 
Terrorism: Perspectives for Regional Cooperation, was 
the largest seminar organized by NATO in the Southern 
Caucasus. 
 
- In 2000-2003, Armenian non-governmental 
organizations held a dozen NATO sponsored seminars 
and workshops aimed at promoting civil society in 
Armenia, as well as disseminating reliable 
information on the role and policies of NATO and 
generating open debate about the security in the 
region of the Southern Caucasus. 
 
- Armenian scientific establishments and individual 
scientists are active participants of the NATO 
Science Programme.  Computer networking programme 
"Virtual Silk Highway"- the most significant project 
launched by NATO in the Southern Caucasus- has been 
implementing in Armenia since January of 2003. 
 
Armenia maintains a regular high-level dialogue with 
NATO, specifically: 
 
- Between 2001-2003, the NATO Secretary=General 
visited Armenia twice and the Armenia President 
visited NATO headquarters twice. 
 
- NATO-Armenia individual consultations have been 
held annually since 2001 between the delegations 
headed by NATO's Assistant Secretary-General and 
Armenia's Deputy Foreign minister. 
 
Armenia has recently appointed a Military 
Representative to NATO.  He will start performing his 
duties on 1 May 2004.  In addition, Armenia's 
President has approved the appointment of an 
Ambassador specifically to NATO.  This appointment is 
expected in mid-2004.  Until then, Armenia's 
ambassador to the EU will continue to maintain his 
NATO portfolio, through Armenia's Mission to NATO. 
 
Armenia attaches great importance to the 
establishment of individual relations with NATO 
seeking its support and advice in reforming and 
modernizing defense and security systems. 
Participation in the Individual Partnership Action 
Plan (IPAP) is being considered as the most relevant 
mechanism to reach this goal.  In this regard, 
Armenia intends to start negotiations on the 
elaboration of Armenia's IPAP shortly after the 
submission of the official application, which is 
expected in the near future. 
 
End text. 
WALKER