The U.S. Senate has approved the program of military cooperation with Armenia for 2003, Armenia's Defense Minister Serge Sarkissian informed. According to the Armenian Minister, the program for 2003 is very much like the one for 2002. The minister also informed that a group of Armenian officers has gone to the US to take part in the final part of the program for 2002. On December 21, 2002, U.S. Congress made a decision on suspending the effect of the 907th amendment banning direct U.S. government assistance to Azerbaijan in connection with a blockade of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. The decision contains an item banning Azerbaijan using American military aid against Armenian communities in the South Caucasus. According to the decision, apart from basic $90 million Armenia will receive extra $4 million as military aid and $300,000 for military training in 2002. (CNA)