(Associated Press) - NATO officials were in Armenia on Thursday, holding talks on the prospects for cooperation between the Caucasus Mountains nation and the Western military alliance, the Armenian Defense Ministry said.
The NATO delegation, headed by Lt. Gen. Panayiotis Harvalas, commander of NATO's Joint Command South Central Europe, arrived on Wednesday and was to depart Friday, the ministry said. The officials were also to visit a military
institute and military units and meet with military attaches of NATO countries in Armenia.
Armenia is a member of NATO's Partnership for Peace program. Earlier, the chief of Armenia's general staff Mikael Harutiunian said the country would take part in 40
exercises and other events organized by NATO this year.
Russia, which opposes NATO expansion toward its borders, keeps a military base in Armenia, while Moscow's ties with Armenia's rival Azerbaijan and neighboring Georgia are much cooler.
The NATO delegation, headed by Lt. Gen. Panayiotis Harvalas, commander of NATO's Joint Command South Central Europe, arrived on Wednesday and was to depart Friday, the ministry said. The officials were also to visit a military
institute and military units and meet with military attaches of NATO countries in Armenia.
Armenia is a member of NATO's Partnership for Peace program. Earlier, the chief of Armenia's general staff Mikael Harutiunian said the country would take part in 40
exercises and other events organized by NATO this year.
Russia, which opposes NATO expansion toward its borders, keeps a military base in Armenia, while Moscow's ties with Armenia's rival Azerbaijan and neighboring Georgia are much cooler.