4.8 Armenia shall continue advancing its friendly partnership, as well as deepening its strategic dialogue, with the United States of America in the spheres of Armenia’s development, the implementation of its reform agenda, democracy, the protection of human rights, and the strengthening of international stability and security. In its foreign relations, Armenia draws on civilizational and democratic value systems, as well as the continual development of mutually beneficial and equal relations with all states. 4.9 Armenia ascribes paramount importance to deepening friendly relations and expanding its bilateral and multilateral partnership with the European Union, its member states, and other European countries. The implementation of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the EU continues to contribute to Armenia’s development reform agenda. Armenia ascribes special importance to strengthening and advancing cooperation with France and Germany. We shall continue steadily fostering people-to-people contact and mobility between Armenia and EU member states. 4.10 Stability in neighboring Georgia and Iran is of great importance for Armenia. Based on mutually beneficial and special good-neighborly relations with Georgia and Iran, Armenia shall advance its effective cooperation with them in various dimensions, while taking care to shield these relationships from extraneous geopolitical influence. 4.11 We shall continue to strengthen the Armenia-Greece-Cyprus tripartite relationship and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation. 4.12 We shall consistently deepen friendly relations with the People’s Republic of China by expanding broad, multi-sector, and mutually beneficial cooperation. 4.13 Armenia shall also work with India to develop and deepen friendly and multidimensional cooperation. 4.14 Continuously expanding our cooperation with Middle Eastern states is among our priorities. Armenia must be involved in reforming the regional security system of the Middle East, aimed also at securing the historical presence of Armenians in the region. 4.15 Armenia ascribes importance to multilateral cooperation with like-minded states aimed at neutralizing global and regional security threats, preserving international order and peace on the basis of common values and principles. DETERRENCE AND NEUTRALIZATION OF MILITARY THREATS 4.16 Armenia’s defense policy intends to protect the security and national interests of the state and its citizens. The main objective of the defense policy is to define and execute Armenia’s defense priorities by anticipating and evaluating military threats, containing them with 12 | NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY OF RA