SECRETARY OF CIS DEFENSE MINISTERS COUNCIL: WE ARE GREATLY INTERESTS BOTH IN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN

Today.Az
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April 20 2009
Azerbaijan

"The CIS format for the Defense Ministers is an area, where Defense
Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia can meet", said secretary of the
CIS Defense Ministers Council Alexander Sinayskiy at Echo Moskvy.

"And they do not merely meet and they regularly communicate, they
always have common topics for discussion. It is very important for
Russia as these both states in which we are greatly interested. Armenia
is not quite a neighbor, it is far from Russia. But it is our ally and
it is very important that everything is in the interests of support
of general stability", said he.

As for the upcoming NATO trainings in Georgia, general Sinayski
noted that CSTO members Armenia and Kazakhstan might explain their
participation by saying that formally the trainings are held under
the UN auspices in the format of the NATO program of "Partnership
for Peace". At the same time, he voiced opinion that "if we approach
rationally, these trainings are untimely".

He also announced that the upcoming trainings are not maneuvers:
"There will be nothing terrible about it. These will be methodical
trainings, methodical gatherings, in other word, this will be a
political demarche by NATO. Despite the negative perception of Russia,
this demarche will be executed. We should take it calmly".

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress