Monday, September 4 2017 13:40

ArmInfo.Armenia is an independent state, and can independently decide in which exercises to participate, and in which there is not. A spokesman for the ARF  Dashnaktsutyun party bureau Hrant Margaryan commented on the refusal  of Armenia to participate in the NATO exercises in Georgia.

At the same time, he did not agree with the statement that this might  somehow affect the image of Armenia.  "I do not think so. Armenia is  in a certain military-political camp, all states are in that kind,  and it's right that we are not trying to stop interaction or enter  into conflict with other camps. But, we need to understand that this  reality requires a certain position from us, "- said the  dashnaktsakan.

From 3 to 11 September in Georgia, NATO exercises Agile Spirit 2017.  According to the Georgian Defense Ministry, at the very last moment  Armenia refused to participate in the exercises. Earlier it was  reported that Armenia had given its consent to participate in NATO  exercises, which was also stated by high-ranking representatives of  the Ministry of Defense of the Republic. Moreover, Armenia's refusal  to participate in the exercises was unexpected for the host country,  as stated by Georgian Defense Ministry spokesman Georgi Kajarava. The  United States, Georgia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Romania  attend the exercises.

The Georgian Armed Forces and the US Marine Corps organize the  multinational exercise Agile Spirit 2017. The aim of the exercise is  to increase readiness for joint operations within NATO forces or to  respond to crises, as well as to improve interaction at the tactical  level between units of the participating countries, to merge infantry  and mechanized units, and to improve mutual cooperation with the  United States and partner countries. The Armenian Defense Ministry  stated that Armenia did not officially confirm its participation in  these exercises, and in expert circles are inclined to believe that  Yerevan's decision is conditioned by pressure from Moscow.

To note, a similar situation was recorded in 2009, when Armenia also  gave its consent to participate in NATO exercises, but refused at the  very last moment.