US embassy denies reports of increasing number of marines in Armenia

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
7 May 05

[Presenter] The US embassy today denied the media reports that the
number of American marines will increase in Armenia in the near
future. The misunderstanding emerged after an interview with the
deputy ambassador, Anthony Godfrey.

The diplomat reportedly said that there were five marines [in Armenia]
and it was planned to increase their number to 400. It has become
clear that they [journalists] confused the number of marines serving
at the embassy with the number of [the embassy’s] American and Armenian
civilian employees.

The American embassy reports that the USA does not plan to increase
its marine garrison.