September 3, 2005 - 09:36 AMT
LATVIA TO PROMOTE DEFENSE REFORM IN ARMENIA
A delegation of the Ministry of Defense (MOD) of Armenia headed by Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan will be in Latvia on a working visit September 5-7, reported the Latvian MOD. Latvian Defense Minister Einars Repse (New Era Party) and Serge Sargsyan plan to discuss defense cooperation opportunities and sign a respective agreement. To promote defense reform in Armenia and its compatibility with the NATO, Einars Repse is going to indicate Latvia's readiness to share experience of participation in peacekeeping operations and provide practical assistance in military training. According to the data of the Latvian MOD, having become a NATO member, the republic has seriously assisted the South Caucasian region in security reform: the Ministry has already arranged close cooperation with Georgia this year and now the Latvian department works over its development with other countries of the South Caucasus. Latvia considers the signing of an agreement on defense cooperation in the course of the Armenian delegation's visit an important move to that end, reported IA Regnum.