Azeri presence in Iraq, Afghanistan explains increased US aid – Armitage
Mediamax news agency
26 Mar 04
YEREVAN
US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said in Yerevan today
that the suggestion of the US administration to increase military aid
to Azerbaijan in 2005 is explained by the presence of this country’s
servicemen in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Mediamax quotes Armitage as saying that he “openly and candidly”
discussed this issue with the Armenian foreign minister. Therefore,
the US diplomat said, the “temporary breach of parity” in the
allocation of military assistance to Yerevan and Baku is explained
only by the desire to ease the strain on the Azerbaijani state budget.
The deputy secretary of state stressed that Armenia continues to be
the first country in the world by the per capita volume of American
assistance.