AzerTag, Azerbaijan
June 1 2005

REPLACEMENT OF RUSSIAN MILITAYR BASES IN ARMENIA TO CAUSE SERIOUS
CONCREN
[June 01, 2005, 23:07:39]

On 1 June, the United States Senator Charles Hagel held a news
conference at the “Hyatt Regency-Nakhchivan” Hotel.

Noting that he is visiting the country as representative of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Mr. Hagel said he is going to
have exchange of opinions on series of questions.

He said President Ilham Aliyev had received the delegation he headed
and they had discussed a range issues related to security, geopolitical
situation, economic development, cooperation in the energy field,
as well as democratic issues. I conveyed gratitude of the American
people to the head of the Azerbaijan state for cooperation in fighting
terrorism and activity in peacemaking process in Afghanistan, Iraq
and Kosovo, he underlined.

Touching upon the opening of the Azerbaijan sector of BTC MEP, the
Senator said he has been one of the supporters of this project. BTC
is an important factor for security, stability, and development
in region. And the United States is proud for participation in the
Project.

Charles Hagel said his country supports peace way resolution to the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Highly estimating the withdrawal of the Russian military bases from
Georgia, Mr. Hagel noted that replacement of a part of them in Armenia
would cause serious concern. Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan are
independent states. No country should have foreign militarily bases
in its territory. This would cause threat in region, he warned.