Armenia, Greece to sign military technical cooperation agreement 

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.