RA President Serzh Sargsyan held a meeting September 15 with Robert Simmons, NATO's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, who arrived in Armenia to observe the Armenia-2010 exercise.

The RA presidential press office informed NEWS.am that President Sargsyan thanked Mr. Simmons for his personal contribution to the Armenia-NATO cooperation and effective work. The Armenian leader stressed the importance of NATO’s assistance in reforms of the Armenian army. In the context of reforms, he pointed out a positive appraisal of the 2009 stage of the Individual Partnership Program.

The Armenian leader also expressed his satisfaction with cooperation in civil defense. President Sargsyan stressed that successful field exercises, Armenia 2010, is a good example of effective cooperation. He pointed out the importance of the exercises for Armenia, which is located in a seismic zone.

In his turn, Robert Simmons pointed out a high level of field exercises in Armenia, which is the result of effective bilateral cooperation. Planning emergency situation is an important aspect of Armenia-NATO cooperation, the Armenia-2010 exercises being evidence thereof, he said.

On behalf of the NATO Secretary General, Simmons thanked the Armenian President for Armenia’s participation in NATO peacemaking missions in Kosovo and Afghanistan. He invited the Armenian leader to the NATO Summit in Lisbon.