Armenian military set to taint Azerbaijan’s image – official says
Ekho, Baku
28 Apr 04
“The Karabakh Liberation Organization [KLO] will prevent the
participation of Armenian servicemen in NATO’s Cooperative Best
Effort-2004 exercises on Azerbaijani territory [due in September].”
This is how KLO leader Akif Nagi reacted to Armenian reports that
[Azerbaijani] President Ilham Aliyev had given assurances that
Armenian servicemen could take part in the manoeuvres.
[Passage omitted: Quotes from Armenian news agencies]
“Our position remains unchanged,” Akif Nagi said. “We have said more
than once that Armenian officers will take part neither in the
planning conference nor in the exercises in Azerbaijan. The KLO will
prevent this. I am confident that the Armenians will not be able to
attend these events.”
In January 2004, the KLO posted its activists at the Baku
international airport to prevent the enemy’s officers from entering
the capital.
The KLO leader expressed his regret about the statement of a US
general that “stability in the region allegedly hinges on
Azerbaijani-Armenian cooperation. We think that stability can be
achieved only if the USA and international organizations impose
sanctions on the aggressor – Armenia.”
“We, as the host country of the exercises, will conduct them at the
appropriate level,” the head of the Defence Ministry press service,
Ramiz Malikov, told Ekho yesterday. “If the Armenians want, let them
participate in the manoeuvres, especially as they have been invited by
NATO.” Malikov believes that the Armenian side is actually not very
keen on taking part in the forthcoming exercises. Their goal is to
damage Azerbaijan’s reputation.”
[Passage omitted: minor details]
An independent military expert, Lt-Col Uzeyir Cafarov, told Ekho that
“last time the Armenians were not very eager to take part in NATO
events either. However, they got what they wanted – the Armenians did
not arrive in Baku, but kicked up a fuss.” This case will be repeated
in September as well, the officer said. “They will ardently express
their desire to participate in the exercises, and will not turn up in
the end.”
[Passage omitted: Armenians did not attend other meetings in
Azerbaijan]