Armenian defence minister, visiting Russian army general praise ties

Arminfo
1 Nov 04

YEREVAN

The secretary of the security council under the Armenian president,
Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan, held a meeting today with the
commander of the North Caucasus Military District, Army Gen Aleksandr
Baranov. Also attending the meeting was the Russian ambassador to
Armenia, Anatoliy Dryukov.

The press secretary of the Armenian defence minister, Seyran
Shakhsuvaryan, has told Arminfo that the Armenian defence minister
expressed his satisfaction with the visit and said there were no
problems in terms of combat readiness and that different joint
military exercises and coordinated daily activities were being held.

Gen Baranov, for his part, said that being a person who had served in
the Fourth Army of the USSR Armed Forces for seven years he was very
well familiar with the region and could say with confidence that the
attitude of the local population towards Russian servicemen had always
been kind.

“I am sure that this warmth between our peoples will be eternal not
only in the military but also in other spheres,” the Russian general
added.

The sides confirmed that Russian-Armenian military, economic, cultural
and other relations were at a qualitatively new level now and that
they were based on traditional friendship and mutually beneficial
cooperation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress