Armenian DM denies joint Russian army drills target Georgia

Armenian defence chief denies joint Russian army drills target Georgia

Mediamax news agency
27 Aug 04

YEREVAN

Armenian Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan said today that participants
in joint Armenian-Russian military exercises had completely fulfilled
the tasks set before them.

The Armenian defence minister described as “exaggeration” media
reports suggesting that the Armenian-Russian military exercises were
intended to put psychological pressure on Georgia.

“As far as I know, the Georgian side has not issued any statements
saying that Armenia was planning something against Georgia. The
exercises were a planned measure and did not pursue any other
objectives. We have conducted such exercises nine times,” Serzh
Sarkisyan said.

The final stage of the four-day joint Armenian-Russian exercises
involving field firing was held in Armenia today at the Marshal
Bagramyan training centre.