Armenian defence chief denies joint Russian army drills target Georgia

Mediamax news agency
27 Aug 04

YEREVAN

Armenian Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan said today that participants
in joint Armenian-Russian military exercises had completely fulfilled
the tasks set before them.

The Armenian defence minister described as “exaggeration” media
reports suggesting that the Armenian-Russian military exercises were
intended to put psychological pressure on Georgia.

“As far as I know, the Georgian side has not issued any statements
saying that Armenia was planning something against Georgia. The
exercises were a planned measure and did not pursue any other
objectives. We have conducted such exercises nine times,” Serzh
Sarkisyan said.

The final stage of the four-day joint Armenian-Russian exercises
involving field firing was held in Armenia today at the Marshal
Bagramyan training centre.