Armenian defence minister, US envoy discuss Karabakh

Armenian Radio First Programme, Yerevan
20 Sep 04

The secretary of the National Security Council under the Armenian
president and defence minister, Serzh Sarkisyan, today received the
newly-appointed US ambassador to Armenia, John Evans.

John Evans said that he was ready to cooperate with the Armenian
Defence Ministry as well as with the government. The sides also talked
about the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents’ [Robert Kocharyan and
Ilham Aliyev] meeting in Astana [on 15 September], stressing that
these bilateral meetings have a positive impact on the peaceful
settlement of the [Karabakh] conflict.

Speaking about the activity of the OSCE [Minsk Group] co-chairmen,
Minister Serzh Sarkisyan stressed: “I consider that the last 10 years
of peace is also the result of the OSCE Minsk Group’s efforts.”

Both sides expressed their regret over the cancellation of NATO’s
Cooperative Best Effort 2004 exercises in Baku. The sides also
discussed a peaceful settlement to the Karabakh conflict and issues of
regional security.