ARMENIA SHOWS NO INTEREST FOR U.S. ANTI-AIRCRAFT RADAR IN CAUCASUS
Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
March 5 2007
Col Gen Mikael Harutyunyan, Deputy Defense Minister, chief of the
Republic of Armenia armed forces general staff, said that Armenia
has not received any proposals on installation of U.S. anti-aircraft
system elements on its territory, said.
Mr. Harutyunyan said "Armenia being a CSTO member does not wish further
armament build-up in the region". Armenia is the only Caucasus country
which accepted the Russian military base.
"The U.S. should decide where to mount the system but I do not see
any sense in it," Mr. Harutyunyan argued.
"Anyway, it’s not our business. Our business is to strengthen
our defense and to cooperate with our strategic partner – Russia
as well as with the United States and European countries. We think
it’s difficult for minor states to settle security issues solely. We
should enjoy close relations with our immediate partners and not forget
about the U.S., European states and our neighbors," he said, reports
newsarmenia.ru. According to the Armenian experts, Russia is Armenia’s
only immediate partner. Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey however have
close military and political relations with the US, the EU and Israel.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
