The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement is possible if mutual compromises are made. Armenian and Bulgarian defense ministers Serge Sarkisian and Nikolay Svinarov stated that after negotiations taking place in Sofia. According to "Novosti" agency reports, Serge Sarkisian noted that Armenia stands for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem on the basis of mutual compromises, effective political talks, in particular, the dialog of the Armenia and Azerbaijani presidents as well as the mediating activities of the OSCE Minsk group. "Yerevan's position regarding that issue does provide for the participation of the defense department in the settlement of that issue", the minister noted. According to Nikolay Svinarov, Bulgaria as not permanent member of the UN Security Council is ready to assist in the peaceful settlement of the conflict. Besides the regional issues and Armenia and Bulgaria's participation in the NATO "Partnership for peace" program, the defense ministers also discussed issues regarding the bilateral military and technical cooperation. The representatives of the ministries signed the program of cooperation of military ministries of Armenia and Bulgaria for 2002-2003.