Armenian president and Italian defense minister discuss expansion of military cooperation
09.04.2015,
18:54
Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan who left for Italy on April 8 evening, had a meeting today with Italian defense minister Roberta Pinotti to discuss expansion of the Armenian-Italian military cooperation, Sargsyan’s press office said.
YEREVAN, April 9. / ARKA /. Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan who left for Italy on April 8 evening, had a meeting today with Italian defense minister Roberta Pinotti to discuss expansion of the Armenian-Italian military cooperation, Sargsyan’s press office said.
Sargsyan and Pinotti were said to have underlined the fact that the Armenian-Italian military cooperation is not limited to bilateral formats only involving also peacekeeping missions. Armenia joined the first international peacekeeping mission in 2004. It was a NATO peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, which was followed by missions in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Sargsyan singled out that due to the efforts of the Italian defense minister 32 Armenian peacekeepers joined the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon under the Italian command. The Armenian platoon ensures the safety of a military camp in Shama. Sargsyan said this was the successful start of the Armenian Italian military cooperation.
Sargsyan also thanked the Italian side for granting scholarships to Armenian military officers to receive quality education. The sides also exchanged views on the Karabakh conflict and stability and security in the South Caucasus.
After the meeting, Sargsyan and Pinotti took part in a video conference to speak to Armenian and Italian troops engaged in peacekeeping mission in Lebanon under the auspices of the UN. –
