(AP) - A German military official pledged Thursday that his country remained committed to furthering military cooperation with ex-Soviet republics in the Caucasus in a bid to help stabilize the troubled region.
"We considered for a long time, should we begin cooperation in the region," Gen. Jurgen Bornemann said during a visit to the Armenian capital, Yerevan. "But in so far as we are here, it means that we believe in the future of the countries of the South Caucasus and we will apply all efforts to bring about balance politics here."
German and Armenian officials said a protocol was signed that calls for establishing regular dialogue between the two nations' militaries and providing some training for Armenian officers in Germany.
The German military delegation had earlier visited Azerbaijan and Georgia. The Caucasus region has been a hotbed of tension since the breakup of the Soviet Union, but all three ex-Soviet republics have pursued closer ties with the West.
"We considered for a long time, should we begin cooperation in the region," Gen. Jurgen Bornemann said during a visit to the Armenian capital, Yerevan. "But in so far as we are here, it means that we believe in the future of the countries of the South Caucasus and we will apply all efforts to bring about balance politics here."
German and Armenian officials said a protocol was signed that calls for establishing regular dialogue between the two nations' militaries and providing some training for Armenian officers in Germany.
The German military delegation had earlier visited Azerbaijan and Georgia. The Caucasus region has been a hotbed of tension since the breakup of the Soviet Union, but all three ex-Soviet republics have pursued closer ties with the West.