ArmenPress
Sept 20 2004
DEFENSE MINISTER MEETS US AMBASSADOR
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS: Armenian defense minister Serzh
Sarkisian met today with the newly appointed US ambassador John
Evans. A defense ministry spokesman, Seyran Shahsuvarian, said the
Armenian minister congratulated the ambassador on taking a new tenure
and expressed hope that the US-Armenian relations will deepen further
and new achievements will be registered.
The ambassador was quoted as saying that the US wants the South
Caucasian countries to strengthen their stability, security,
establish peace and develop their democratic institutions. He said
also he was prepared to effectively cooperate with Armenian
authorities, including also the defense ministry.
The two men also referred to Armenian and Azeri presidents;
meeting in Astana during a CIS summit, saying such contacts have
positive impact on the process of the peaceful resolution of the
Nagorno Karabagh conflict. The Armenian minister commended also the
OSCE Minsk group for its efforts to help maintain peace in the last
ten years. The two sides also expressed their regret over NATO’s
decision to cancel its Best Cooperative Effort-2004 drills in
Azerbaijan. Sarkisian and Evans spoke also on the current pace of
Nagorno Karabagh conflict regulation and other regional
security-related issues.