Armenian minister happy with NATO-sponsored conference in Baku

Arminfo
28 Jun 04

YEREVAN

Armenian Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan is happy with the
participation of Armenian officers in the Cooperative Best Effort 2004
planning conference in Baku.

“Naturally I am happy with the fact that the Defence Ministry was
represented at that event,” the minister told journalists
yesterday. He said it had already been decided that seven Armenian
officers would take part in the exercises.

“Our stance has not changed. We will definitely take part and in
fairness to the Azerbaijani authorities, they took necessary steps to
ensure the 100-per-cent security of the officers who took part in the
exercises [conference],” the minister said.

He added that the Azerbaijani side and NATO guarantee the security of
the officers who will take part in the exercises.

Let us remind you that Col Murad Isakhanyan and Senior Lieutenant Aram
Ovanesyan attended the planning conference. Baku will host NATO’s
exercises on 14-26 September.

[A separate Arminfo report quoted the minister as telling the
journalists that “we will all benefit from any events aimed at making
the world and the region in particular more secure”].