Cancellation of exercises in Baku to hurt NATO-Azerbaijan relations – US ambassador

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 16 2004

Washington has expressed its regret with Azerbaijan’s refusal to
allow Armenian officers to attend NATO exercises in Baku.

The US ambassador to Azerbaijan Reno Harnish told journalists on
Wednesday that “this will somewhat negatively affect Azerbaijan’s
positions in the “Partnership for Peace” program”.

NATO administration decided to cancel the multi-national exercises
in Azerbaijan hours before they were due to start on September 14.

Shortly before the planned exercises, the opposition, public
organizations, the parliament of Azerbaijan voiced their protests
against the Armenian officers’ participation, reaffirming the fact
that Armenia occupies Azerbaijan’s territories.

Harnish mentioned that over the last year Azerbaijan had been making
preparations for the exercises and promised to resolve the problem
of Armenians’ participation in NATO exercises.*

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress