BAKU: US Gen Says Got Aliyev Assurances To Let Armenia Join Exercise

Baku Today
April 28 2004

U.S. General Says He Got Assurances From Aliyev To Let Armenia Join
To Exercises

Baku Today 28/04/2004 13:52

Trend – U.S. Gen. Charles Wald said in Yerevan that he had received
assurances from President Ilham Aliyev that the Armenian military
could participate in NATO’s Cooperative Best Effort-2004 exercises
planned to be held in Azerbaijan in September.
Gen. Wald noted that he discussed the issue with the Azerbaijani
President and “Ilham Aliyev assured me that the Armenian military
will face no problems to participate in the exercises.’
The General added that Nicholas Barns, the U.S. Ambassador to NATO,
was also involved in issue of Armenia’s joining to the Cooperative
Best Effort-2004.

Col. Gen. Mikhael Arutunian, chief of General Headquarters of
Armenian army, asserted on Tuesday that the Armenian side was ready
to join the exercises.