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.
ArmInfo.There is no political implication in the non- participation of the Armenian armed forces in the multinational military exercises of NATO Agile Spirit 2017. Armenian Deputy Defense Minister Artak Zakaryan stated this in a conversation with journalists.
ArmInfo. The Armenian delegation headed by the Chief of the Air Defense Forces of Armed Forces, Colonel Armen Vardanyan will take part in the meeting of the Air Defense Coordination Committee under the Council of CIS Defense Ministers and in the joint trainings "Combat Commonwealth 2017" in Moscow and Astrakhan from September 4 to 6.