US AND NATO LAUNCH UNPRECEDENTED MILITARY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN GEORGIA, AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIAMay 20, 2004 - 18:41 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The United States and the NATO launch an unprecedented program of military assistance to Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, sources in the US European Command quartered in Germany evidenced. Specifically, according to their reports, the Baltic states, who have just joined the North-Atlantic Alliance, are ready to play an active role in such efforts. The Americans intend to continue "careful application of mild force' in the Caucasus. The Train and Equip Georgia program worth $64 million is an instance of a strategy of that type. According to the data of the Boston Globe newspaper, since May 2002 within that program the US has trained four battalions of Georgian infantry and a tank company. The Caspian Guard new US initiative is called to assist Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan to strengthen the security of the Caspian region. At that the US and its allies do not keep back they are first of all interested in unimpeded supplies of the Caspian oil. Along with the US, Germany, Turkey and the UK make notable military contributions to the South Caucasian countries. As of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, they are ready to share experiences with Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan on reforming armed forces to make them comply with the NATO standards. Besides, the three Baltic republics wish to assist in training frontier troops. Specifically, a two-day conference of representatives of the NATO defense departments, held this month by the George Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Garmisch-Partenkirchen German city, aimed at coordination of efforts in assisting the South Caucasus. According to the information of the Boston Globe, representatives of Georgia and Armenia participated in the forum. Top stories Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. President of the Armenian parliament Alen Simonyan met with the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova. Achieving stable peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains a priority of the OSCE, said Ian Borg. The Cabinet of Ministers decided on Thursday, November 9 to allocated AMD 120 million to arrange the gathering. Partner news | Aliyev travels to Turkey at Erdogan's invitation On June 10, Azerbaijani President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev will leave for Turkey on a working visit. CSTO budget “to be adjusted due to Yerevan’s non-payment of contributions” The CSTO budget for the current year requires adjustments due to the refusal of Yerevan to pay their share of contributions. Russia sends note of protest to Armenia over envoy’s trip to Ukraine’s Bucha Russia has sent a note of protest to Armenia over the visit of Vladimir Karapetyan and Tigran Ter-Margaryan to Bucha. Armenia: Protesters march to parliament, some spend the night on street The protesters did not disperse despite heavy rain that began at around 2 a.m. local time. |