US embassy regrets Azeri decision to bar Armenians from NATO drills

Turan news agency
14 Sep 04

Baku, 14 September: In connection with NATO’s decision to cancel the
Cooperative Best Effort 2004 exercises in Baku, Turan news agency
has contacted the US embassy for comment.

A US embassy representative said that the Americans totally agree
with Brussels’s decision.

“We support the decision of the NATO leadership to cancel the
exercises within the Partnership for Peace programme scheduled for
13-25 September in Baku.

“This decision was taken following the Azerbaijani authorities’
refusal to issue visas to Armenian participants. It is crucial that
all member countries of NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme are
able to take part in the programme. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan are
members of this programme.

“We deeply regret that Baku decided not to issue visas to Armenian
participants. We do not think that this decision has anything to do
with Baku’s desire to cooperate with NATO and become closer to the
alliance,” the embassy’s representative said.