Interfax
Aug 24 2004

Armenia wants Equatorial Guinea to release its pilots

Yerevan. (Interfax) – Armenia is working hard to convince the
authorities of Equatorial Guinea to release six Armenian pilots who
were detained earlier this year, Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian
told journalists on Monday.

“I would not like to offer optimistic forecasts, but Armenia is doing
everything possible in this direction,” Oskanian said.

An Armenian delegation has left for a third visit to Equatorial
Guinea for talks, he said.

The pilots, who arrived in Equatorial Guinea’s capital of Malabo in
January 2004, were engaged in delivering cargoes on an Armenian
carrier’s An-12 aircraft under an agreement with German contractors.
They were arrested on March 7.

The pilots have been charged with organizing a coup, serving as
mercenaries and espionage. The accused men have denied the charges.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress