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Defense Minister of Italy: Resolution of Karabakh conflict is of strategic importance for security of Europe

Defense Minister of Italy: Resolution of Karabakh conflict is of strategic importance for security of Europe

19 October 2012

Resolution of the Karabakh conflict is of strategic importance for security of Europe, Defense Minister of Italy, Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola, told media in Yerevan, Wednesday.

The Italian minister is on an official visit to Armenia. He said that as an OSCE MG member-state Italy is interested in resolution of the Karabakh conflict and ready to make its contribution to it for stability and security in the South Caucasus.

 "We call on Armenia and Azerbaijan to overcome the existing discrepancies, make confidence building efforts, and start a dialogue based on the Helsinki Final Act," the minister said.

Giampaolo Di Paola stressed the importance of his first visit to Armenia and called it a good opportunity for discussing the perspectives of cooperation in a broad spectrum of issues with the Armenian party.  "Italy is a member of NATO and it is interested in development of efficient cooperation with Armenia, especially that there is certain experience in the given area due to participation in peacekeeping missions and training programs," the Italian minister said.

Earlier today the two-countries' governments signed an agreement of cooperation in the sphere of defense.  The two countries' defense ministers signed the document. Cooperation covers security, defense, military education, military medicine, military justice and peacemaking and humanitarian sectors. The two ministers discussed also perspective of cooperation in the military industrial sector. 

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