Since September 11 Armenian Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan is in Bulgaria on an official visit. During his meeting with his Bulgarian counterpart Vesselin Bliznakov matters of strengthening bilateral military cooperation were discussed. The Ministers agreed to work jointly in democratic control over the armed forces, working out the military budget and ensuring transparency of defense planning. Sargsyan and Bliznakov also agreed to create conditions for exchange of experience and retraining of personnel in higher military education institutions of Bulgaria. The MOD heads signed a joint statement on further development of bilateral military cooperation.

S. Sargsyan also met with Bulgarian President Georgy Parvanov, visited the People's Council, where he met with its Deputy Chair Peter Beron and members of the Standing Parliamentary Commission on Defense. The Armenian MOD head is also scheduled to visit the National Military University and the military base of Graf Ignatievo near Plovdiv. Meetings of working groups on Defense Planning and Logistics were held in Sofia within the cooperation program of the Defense Ministries of Armenia and Bulgaria, reports the Press Service of the Armenian MFA.