ArmInfo.On August 31, the Government of Armenia approved the proposal to sign an agreement on military-technical cooperation between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Greece.
As the explanatory note to the document says, the high level of the Armenia-Greece political dialogue, as well as interaction on bilateral and multilateral platforms, creates a fertile ground for closer and more effective cooperation in the field of defense. Armenia also attaches great importance to efforts aimed at expanding and deepening partnerships as an essential bridge between Armenia and NATO, as well as in the context of developing relations with NATO member countries.
Bilateral military cooperation between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Greece is carried out by the "Agreement on military cooperation between the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia and the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Greece", signed in 2011 in order to ensure proper conditions for military-technical cooperation based on equality and mutual respect. Over the years, agreements were signed on the procedure and conditions for training RA citizens in the military educational institutions of Greece, on cooperation in the field of weapons and defense technologies, military medicine, which provided for cooperation in the fields of military education, military exercises, military medicine and topography, consulting support.
Armenia, as a member state of the "Partnership for Peace" program, also appreciates the active role of Greece in the context of strengthening the RA-NATO dialogue, including from the point of view of cooperation in the field of peacekeeping. The Armed Forces of Armenia have been carrying out an international peacekeeping mission since February 2004 (a contingent of Armenian peacekeepers consisting of 34 people went to Kosovo to carry out a peacekeeping mission as part of a Greek unit). In 2018, the Armenian side proposed to the Greek side to sign the Agreement "On military-technical cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the Republic of Greece" at the interstate level.
The terms of the agreement determine the areas of cooperation between the parties, in particular, the promotion of research on new technologies and military products in order to strengthen defense capabilities, cooperation in the areas of development and production in accordance with national legislation.
The agreement includes such important areas of cooperation as the transfer of technology and technical assistance in the production of weapons, ammunition and explosives, the exchange of information and experience in the production of ammunition, research in the field of military goods and their production, the creation of joint organizations for their production, and as well as other directions by mutual agreement of the parties.
The agreement provides for provisions on forms of military-technical cooperation, including the training of technical personnel, the provision of services related to the repair and operation of military products manufactured in third countries. As part of the agreement, the sale of collaborations and equipment to third parties, and the granting of production permission, will require the prior written consent of both parties, and their access to third parties will be governed by separate agreements.
In order to implement the agreement and promote cooperation, it is planned to create an Armenian-Greek commission, which should evaluate the agreement, present recommendations and priorities for further development of cooperation, and approve its work schedule.
The Agreement also provides for the procedure for resolving disputes arising from its interpretation and application, as well as the entry into force and termination of the Agreement.
The signing of the agreement is aimed at further strengthening existing friendly relations and deepening cooperation on a permanent and long-term basis, by expanding the interaction of the armed forces of the two countries on issues of mutual interest. By signing it, the parties recognize and strengthen cooperation in the military, military-technical and economic spheres.
The signing of the agreement fully corresponds to the strategic interests of the Republic of Armenia and its implementation makes it possible to expand international cooperation in the military-technical sphere, develop the military-industrial complex, create opportunities and potential for the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia to be equipped with modern weapons, military and other equipment and future development.