SOME 400 SERVICEMEN FROM 19 COUNTRIES TO PARTICIPATE IN NATO MANEUVERS IN ARMENIAJune 12, 2003 - 22:37 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Approximately 400 troops from 19 countries will participate in "Cooperative Best Effort 2003" military exercise to be held in Armenia June 16-27 within "Partnership for Peace" NATO program. 8 NATO member nations (Canada, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States) and 11 partner countries (Armenia, Austria, Bulgaria, Georgia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Slovakia and Uzbekistan) will participate in the exercise. This marks the first time that Russia will participate in such a NATO exercise. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Armenia considers Cyprus as one of its main partners in EU - envoy Armenia considers Cyprus one of its main partners in the European Union, Ambassador Tigran Mkrtchyan has said. Armenian, Albanian Foreign Ministers discuss ties, regional issues Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan had a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Albania Igli Hasani. POLITICO: Baku lobbying agains detained Karabakh ex-leader abroad Azerbaijan is lobbying agains former Nagorno-Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan, according to POLITICO. Armenia confirms will attend NATO summit in Washington Armenia has confirmed its participation in the NATO summit in Washington, a spokesperson has confirmed. |