Panorama.am

12:51 01/09/06

DEFENSE MINISTER REFRAINS TO COMMENT ON EU STATEMENT ABOUT AZERBAIJAN

`I have neither willingness nor right to comment on the decision of
the Council of Europe and the European Union,’ Defense Minister Serz
Sargsyan told reporters speaking about the statement of the European
Union on reduction of military budget of Azerbaijan. However, Sargsyan
believes that the request or demand of the European Union will stay
without consequences since the minister believes `Azerbaijan will not
cut its military expenditures.’

The minister hopes for some developments in Karabakh conflict
regulation during the upcoming four months of the year since he says,
`limited optimism is good.’

Speaking about he rumors that Russian President Putin has told
President Kocharyan that he does not want to see Serz Sargsyan as the
next president of Armenia, Sargsyan said, ` I am amazed how poisonous
some reporters and political actors are. The miserable person who
disseminated such rumors thinks he has access to information more than
special services. Such people want to impact public opinion by unfair
means.’ /Panorama.am/