The head of the Armenian Ministry of Defense Suren Papikyan met with his Austrian counterpart Arnold Kammel in Yerevan. The parties discussed the prospects for cooperation between the two countries in the field of defense. Papikyan presented Kammel with the progress of military reforms being carried out in Armenia.

Earlier in Yerevan, the heads of the Ministry of Defense of France and Armenia signed a number of new cooperation agreements and contracts with French defense companies. During a joint press conference, Sebastien Lecornu confirmed the delivery of a new batch of weapons to Armenia.

The Russian Federation has repeatedly expressed concern about Armenia’s rapprochement with NATO and the West.

“They are pumping up weapons, trying to rebuild the defense sector of Armenia, and undermine existing mechanisms within the CSTO. NATO emissaries also make trips to Baku, not contributing to the development of peaceful relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” noted Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nastasin.

On June 28, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs O'Brien said that Azerbaijan and Armenia have been invited to a meeting of NATO partners, which will take place July 9-11 in Washington. Yerevan confirmed its participation in the summit.