Russian defence minister to visit Armenia
By Alexander Konovalov
Itar-Tass, Russia
May 20 2004
MOSCOW, May 20 — Russian Acting Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov will
leave for Armenia on Thursday for a two-day working visit.
After arriving in Yerevan, the minister will have talks with his
counterpart Serzh Sarkisyan to discuss prospects for development of the
military and technical military cooperation between Russia and Armenia,
including deliveries of Russian military machinery and weapons and
forming of a Russian-Armenian regional military unit similar to that
being formed by Moscow and Minsk, a Russian Defence Ministry source
told Itar-Tass.
The two ministers will also discuss international and regional
security issues, including the situation in Iraq, the Middle East,
Afghanistan and the Caucasus.
Ivanov will participate in the meeting of the CIS defence minister
council on May 21.
There are 20 issues on the meeting agenda, including development of
the CIS united air-defence system, joint exercises and cooperation
to prevent proliferation of mass destruction weapons.
The same day, the Russian minister will have a series of bilateral
meetings with CIS counterparts.
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan is expected to receive the meeting
participants.