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THE ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA APPROVED NATO DECISION TO CANCEL KEY MILITARY EXERCISES IN AZERBAIJ

Official

The Armenian Assembly of America commended NATO for its decision to cancel military exercises set to begin in Azerbaijan today after Baku's repeated attempts to bar Armenia's participation. Armenia was among several dozen countries due to take part in the annual exercises, but Azeri officials were clear to point out that they did not want Armenians on their territory.

U.S. General James Jones, Supreme Commander of Allied Forces, expressed regret over the country's refusal to grant entrance visas to five Armenian officers to take part in the military exercises dubbed "Cooperative Best Effort (CBE) 2004."

In a statement released today, NATO said in part: "All PfP [Partnership for Peace] exercises are agreed and conducted on the principle of inclusiveness for all Allies and Partners which wish to participate. Nations participating in Cooperative Best Effort 2004 agreed and have supported the exercise based on this principle. We regret that the principle of inclusiveness could not be upheld in this case, leading to the cancellation of the exercise."

"We applaud NATO for its principled stance and refusal to succumb to Azerbaijan's pressure to bar Armenia, an active participant of the PfP program, from these exercises," said Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian.

"Azerbaijan's refusal to honor international commitments is part of an escalating pattern throughout 2004 of its hostility towards all things Armenian," continued Barsamian. "By not properly condemning the murder of an Armenian officer at a NATO event earlier this year, by constantly threatening Armenia and NKR with another military offensive and by not denouncing the remarks of its Defense Ministry spokesperson predicting Armenia's conquest by Azerbaijan within 25 years, Azerbaijan's senior leadership have shown their true colors to the international community."

Armenia, as part of its commitment to international security in the Caucasus, invited both Azerbaijan and Turkey to participate in the NATO exercises held in Yerevan last year. Although Turkish troops attended, their Azeri counterparts refused. NATO's debut in Yerevan was noteworthy in that two conflicting countries united to participate in the games.

The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.