NATO envoy visits Armenia

The NATO envoy met President Kocharian, Prime Minister Sarkisian, Foreign Minister Oskanian, Defence Minister Harutiunian and Speaker of the Parliament Torosian, as well as a number of other government officials.

Key topics for discussion included regional security issues; the defence and political reforms being carried out as part of Armenia's Individual Partnership Action Plan with NATO; enhancing the role of parliament in the defence reform process; and Armenian participation in NATO-led operations. Issues related to crisis management and civil emergency planning were also discussed.

During his visit, the NATO envoy visited the 12th Peacekeeping Battalion, which is the Armenian unit that provides peacekeeping troops for the NATO-led force in Kosovo. The battalion may also provide medical specialists and staff officers for a future Armenian contribution to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

Robert Simmons also visited the NATO Information Centre, where he met representatives of civil society.