Armenian Assembly of America
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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 13, 2004
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: ckojoian@aaainc.org

NATO CANCELS KEY MILITARY EXERCISES IN AZERBAIJAN
SAYS BAKU VIOLATED “PRINCIPLE OF INCLUSIVENESS”

Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly of America commended NATO for its
decision to cancel military exercises set to begin in Azerbaijan today after
Baku’s repeated attempts to bar Armenia’s participation. Armenia was among
several dozen countries due to take part in the annual exercises, but Azeri
officials were clear to point out that they did not want Armenians on their
territory.

U.S. General James Jones, Supreme Commander of Allied Forces, expressed
regret over the country’s refusal to grant entrance visas to five Armenian
officers to take part in the military exercises dubbed “Cooperative Best
Effort (CBE) 2004.”

In a statement released today, NATO said in part: “All PfP [Partnership for
Peace] exercises are agreed and conducted on the principle of inclusiveness
for all Allies and Partners which wish to participate. Nations participating
in Cooperative Best Effort 2004 agreed and have supported the exercise based
on this principle. We regret that the principle of inclusiveness could not
be upheld in this case, leading to the cancellation of the exercise.”

“We applaud NATO for its principled stance and refusal to succumb to
Azerbaijan’s pressure to bar Armenia, an active participant of the PfP
program, from these exercises,” said Assembly Board of Directors Chairman
Anthony Barsamian.

“Azerbaijan’s refusal to honor international commitments is part of an
escalating pattern throughout 2004 of its hostility towards all things
Armenian,” continued Barsamian. “By not properly condemning the murder of
an Armenian officer at a NATO event earlier this year, by constantly
threatening Armenia and NKR with another military offensive and by not
denouncing the remarks of its Defense Ministry spokesperson predicting
Armenia’s conquest by Azerbaijan within 25 years, Azerbaijan’s senior
leadership have shown their true colors to the international community.”

Armenia, as part of its commitment to international security in the
Caucasus, invited both Azerbaijan and Turkey to participate in the NATO
exercises held in Yerevan last year. Although Turkish troops attended,
their Azeri counterparts refused. NATO’s debut in Yerevan was noteworthy in
that two conflicting countries united to participate in the games.

The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

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