ARMENIAN PRESIDENT DECLINES INVITATION TO NATO SUMMIT IN ISTANBUL

Radikal, Turkey
May 11 2004

Armenian officials announced yesterday that President Robert Kocharian
had declined to attend next month’s NATO summit in Istanbul. According
to a statement from the Armenian president’s office, the decision
was made to protest a lack of progress in relations between Ankara
and Yerevan. Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan is expected
to go in Kocharian’s stead. The statement also underlined that
Yerevan remains ready to cooperate with Ankara to improve bilateral
relations. /Radikal-Star/