Minister Dr Csaba Hende and Seyran Ohanyan Minister of Defence of Armenia signed a Military Cooperation Agreement between Hungary and Armenia on November 23.

The Minister of Defence of the Armenian Republic, Seyran Ohanyan paid an official, complimentary visit to Hungary on November 23. He was received with military honours by Defence Minister Dr Csaba Hende. The Armenian and the Hungarian Defence Ministers reviewed the possibilities of bilateral military cooperation, the current international and regional defence and security issues and exchanged views upon the Hungarian EU Presidency due in 2011. Later that day Dr Csaba Hende had a plenary session with Seyran Ohanyan.
During the talks Dr Csaba Hende said that Hungary welcomed Armenia’s intentions to cooperate with the Euro-Atlantic institutions. The minister said that the NATO Partnership program was considered to be a key issue. He was highly concerned that this program would contribute to maintain peace and security. Hungary, as a NATO member keeps an eye on the Armenian reforms and expects the outcome of the Strategic Defence and Security Review. Following the talks the Minister of Defence and his Armenian counterpart signed an agreement on military cooperation between the two countries.
On the second day of his visit to Hungary the Armenian Defence Minister is going to pay an official visit to the Vice-President of the National Defence and Law Enforcement Committee. He is going to meet the President of the National Self-Government of the Armenian Minority in Hungary, as well. In the framework of the official programme the Armenian Minister of Defence is going to lay a wreath at the statue of the Unknown Soldier at Heroes’ Square, afterwards he is going to visit ZMNDU.

Translated by Dóra Darnyik