Armenia president not to attend NATO summit in Istanbul

ITAR-TASS, Russia
May 10 2004

YEREVAN, May 10 (Itar-Tass) -President Robert Kocharyan of Armenia
will not take part in the NATO summit in Istanbul late in June,
presidential press secretary Ashot Kocharyan said on Monday.

He said in an interview with Tass this decision “is explained by
the current state of Armenian-Turkish relations.” “No progress in
bilateral relations was seen in 2003,” the press secretary said.
“Armenia reiterates its readiness to improve relations with Turkey
without preliminary conditions,” he said.

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan will represent the country
at Istanbul’s summit. The press secretary said relations between
Armenia and NATO “are developing on the line of ascent within the
framework of the ‘Partnership for Peace’ programme.”

He reminded that in 2003 the president visited Brussels, where he
met with high-ranking NATO officials as well as took part in NATO
summits in Washington and Prague.