The main reasons why Armenia has not contributed to troops to UN peace operations rests on its foreign policy, internal political and economic environment. On foreign policy, “the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh is one of the top priorities” and “Yerevan wants the world, and particularly Turkey, to recognize that the killing by the Ottoman Empire of hundreds of thousands of Armenians between 1915 and 1917 was genocide” (Ibid., par. 4; BBC 2006d, par. 1). As a result, Armenia’s diplomatic relations are more focused on bilateral agreements with Russia, the USA, and the European Union. Because due to the economic conditions are poor: Unemployment and poverty remain widespread (BBC 2006d, par. 1). The UK currently plays an adviser role to train Armenian peacekeepers (UK 2006, par. 1).
Initial variables of the data collection process:
UN/UN peacekeeping policy reform
While Armenia is highly involved in several UN agencies, there is no record about its participation in UN reform. The Mission of Armenia states on its website that it is responsible also for Armenia’s contacts with such organizations as the Non-Aligned Movement, G-77, Arab League, Organization of Islamic Conference, Organization of African Unity (OAU) and others (UN-Armenia 2006, 2).
Perception of peacekeeping
The perception is assessed as positive because the Armenian Mission to the UN states on its website that there are some activities being conducted in order to participate.
Domestic political environment
Armenia’s politics are entering a tense period, with a general election due to be held in May 2007 and a presidential election scheduled for early 2008 (EIU 2006az, 7).
Informal campaigning for both elections is already under way, with a realignment of the party political scene and leading players within the elite setting out their positions. The main contest in the parliamentary election looks likely to be that between the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and Prosperous Armenia, a relatively new political creation established by Gagik Tsarukian, one of the country’s wealthiest businessmen. Participating in UN peace operations is not an important issue within the current political debate, because Armenia has already engaged in receiving military training from the UK to participate in UN peace operations. (Ibid.)
Real GDP growth has continued to exceed expectations, coming in at just over 11% in January-August, and we estimate growth in 2006 as a whole at 10.5% (EIU 2006az, 10). And unemployment and poverty remain widespread (BBC 2006d, par. 4). Armenia’s economic problems are aggravated by a trade blockade, imposed by neighboring Turkey and Azerbaijan since the dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh (Ibid.). Nevertheless, there is no record about Armenia thinking about the possibility of seeking employment for its citizens as peacekeeping.
Military affairs
The IISS states that the Armenian military armed forces number some 44,874 regular personnel—including 30,075 conscripts—and 1,000 paramilitary personnel (EIU 2006c, quoting IISS 2005). The armed forces have 110 tanks and about 140 other armored vehicles, as well as six fixed-wing aircraft and eight helicopters (Ibid.).
Foreign policy
Relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey are poor (EIU 2006c, 14). Russia is Armenia’s main regional strategic partner (Ibid.). The Armenia Diaspora has a major influence on US policy (Ibid.). Several issues strain relations with the Council of Europe [such as the death penalty] (Ibid.).
Armenia has been a member of the UN since March 2, 1992 (UN-Armenia 2006, 1). The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Armenia to the United Nations, which began its activities long before formal adoption of Armenia to the UN, is actively involved in the activities of all UN bodies and specialized agencies, presenting and defending the Armenian position on the issues of international concern (Ibid.).
Another important field of Armenian activities in the UN is the cooperation with the UN bodies which provide humanitarian and technical assistance to the economies in transition, such as Armenia (Ibid., par. 3).The pursuing of Armenian national and state interests, such as, for example, the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh, is one of the top priorities (Ibid.). The primary goal is to provide the international community with true information about the conflict, to present and defend Armenian position. Another area of activities is the promotion of international recognition of Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire. Using all relevant opportunities the Permanent Mission provides the international community with true information about the first Genocide of the 20th century, which cost 1.5 million innocent lives and resulted in total de-Armenification of Western Armenia. (Ibid., par. 2)
The activities are mostly focused on the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Food Program (WFP), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) with the goal of attracting as many development and assistance projects as possible. Special emphasis is being put on cooperation with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) since these fields are of vital importance for Armenia (Ibid.). The ongoing conflict around Nagorno-Karabakh makes it necessary to interact on a permanent basis with the…UNHCR and…UNICEF for formulating special policies, setting standards and guidelines and mobilizing funds. (Ibid.)
The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), through the UK Embassy in Armenia, offers scholarships, training and courses to officials in the Armenian Defence Ministry (UK 2006, par. 2).
This year two senior officials from Armenia took part in an International Military Law Seminar in Rheindahlen, Germany. Places were also offered on an International Intelligence Directors course in the UK and a range of British military English courses in the UK and other countries, including the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The MOD also offers an annual scholarship in defence diplomacy to the Armenian Ministry of Defence. English Language Training through the Peacekeeping English scheme funded by the UK, the British and Armenian MODs operate a joint project aimed at improving English language training for the military. The project is currently based at Armenia’s Peacekeeping Battalion in Yerevan, where the UK provides a manager/adviser, Tony Crocker. (Ibid., par. 3)
Climate changes
No record.
Independent negotiations taken by DPKO to seek troops
No record.
Independent negotiations taken by contributor countries to engage non-contributor countries
Armenia and Greece have signed a memorandum of understanding under which the status of the Armenian servicemen going to Kosovo for peacekeeping operations will be defined (NT 2003, par. 1). The troops will go there as part of the Greek military contingent (Ibid.). The chief of the General Staff of the Armenian armed forces, Col-Gen Mikael Arutyunyan, and the chief of the General Staff of the Greek Defence Army, Gen Yeoryios Andonakopoulos, signed the memorandum on that on September 3, 2003 (Ibid.).
On October 9, 2004, one Armenian newspaper reported in its headline: “Between two blockades” Armenia, which is still under the Russian-Georgian blockade, may find itself under another blockade (Iravunk 2004, par. 1). A reliable source at the Foreign Ministry has said that some diplomatic circles of Iran have given a hint that if Armenia really decides to get involved in the US-Iraq conflict, Iran might take serious steps (Ibid.).
Naturally, the issue is about the Armenian leadership’s plan to send a group of 50 Armenian servicemen to Iraq. Although, according to the Armenian defence minister, they are going to fulfill only a “humanitarian” mission in Iraq, judging by this information, these explanations are not convincing to one of our significant and strategic neighbors. Also, if we add to this plan the intention of returning [to Azerbaijan] three of the liberated districts which are close to the Iranian border and where US military bases will presumably be deployed in the future, Iran’s concern seems absolutely logical and clear. Anyway, we hope that the countries which are our strategic partners will at least reach agreement with each other so that punitive actions against Armenia in the form of a blockade are taken separately, not simultaneously. (Ibid., par. 2)“Armenian people should be proud of their peacekeeping platoon,” Director of Plans and Policy, Headquarters US European Command, Maj-Gen Jeffrey B. Kohler has said at Zvartnots airport (A1 2004, par. 1 quoting Kohler 2004). Kohler refused to comment on the brutal murder of the Armenian officer in Hungary: ”I leave it for the Hungarian leaders” (Ibid.).
Kohler said he arrived in Armenia to thank the Armenian authorities for the military unit sent to Kosovo and for the one to be sent to Iraq (Ibid., par. 3). “The USA is proud to have Armenia as a partner in the struggle against terrorism and the reconstruction of Iraq” (Ibid.).
The US Air Force representative also said that one of the aims of his visit was to look at new forms of cooperation (Ibid., par. 5). “We need time to properly study the potential of the Armenian armed forces…and for the time being, Armenia has voiced willingness to send trucks and sappers to Iraq” (Ibid.).
Meetings organized by other international organizations to engage in dialogue about peacekeeping
An Armenian official has said Turkey’s involvement in peacekeeping operations in Upper Garabagh after the Armenia-Azerbaijan dispute is settled is unacceptable for his country (Assa Irada 2006, par. 1). Although it is early to speak about peacekeeping operations, Armenia is against the participation of Ankara in the process, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian told a briefing after meeting with the OSCE chairman-in-office Karel De Gucht (Ibid.).
On January 14, 2006, the Armenian Foreign Minister, Vardan Oskanyan, said in Yerevan that ‘Armenia’s political dialogue with NATO and our participation in the P[fP] Program gradually acquire a more purposeful and coordinated character” country (Assa Irada 2006, par. 1).
Vardan Oskanyan said that "certain steps have been taken recently which took Armenia-NATO cooperation to a qualitatively new level", Mediamax reports. The minister noted that in 2003 Armenia joined the multilateral Status of Forces Agreement under the P[fP] program which regulates issues concerning the presence of the armed forces of the NATO allies and partner states on the territory of the partner countries. Vardan Oskanyan pointed out that in 2003 all the questions regarding the dispatch of Armenian peacekeepers to Kosovo had been resolved and the Armenian contingent would leave for Kosovo in January 2004 country. “Building armed forces compatible with the allies, Armenia will contribute to NATO’s peacekeeping operations.” (Ibid.)Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan has said that the approval of the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) with NATO is one of the main foreign policy events of 2005 (BBC-MIR 2005, par. 1).
In an interview with Armenian Public TV on December, the Armenian foreign minister said that the implementation of the plan would enable Armenia to institutionalize its relations with NATO in the following three main directions: political dialogue, defence reforms and the expansion of peacekeeping involvement, Mediamax reports. Vardan Oskanyan said that the defence reforms, to be carried out with NATO’s assistance, will enable the Armenian armed forces "to maintain their competitiveness in the region". The Armenian foreign minister expressed the hope that cooperation between Armenia and NATO in 2006 would be very effective. (Ibid., par. 3)
