MOSCOW. Aug 11 (Interfax) - Russia stands ready to continue to help Armenia modernize and reform its Armed Forces, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
"We attach great importance to the development of our interaction in the military field, both in a bilateral format and within the CSTO [Collective Security Treaty Organization] framework. Bearing this in mind, we stand ready to continue providing assistance with the implementation of a program for reforming the Armenian Armed Forces. This objective isn't easy to attain, but I think your experience should help you manage it," Shoigu said at a meeting with Armenian Defense Minister Arshak Karapetyan in Moscow.
Shoigu congratulated Karapetyan on his appointment to the office, saying that this has happened "at a challenging time, when the difficult job of reforming the country's defense sphere has to be done."
Karapetyan thanked Shoigu for the willingness to help restore the Armenian Armed Forces' combat capability and equip and train its troops.