16:07, 13 January 2004

Having been denied visas, Armenian servicemen still left for Baku

Armenian servicemen left for Baku on January 12, in spite of the fact that the Azerbaijan side had denied entry visas to them. Without giving any comments, the Azerbaijan Embassy in Tbilisi refused to grant the Armenian officers the visas to take part in the conference forestalling NATO's military exercises that are to take place in Baku. The Armenian side informed the conference organizers that it kept abiding by the principles of the resolution of all conflicts through cooperation, and therefore sent its representatives to Baku, despite the obstacles putting in their way by the Azerbaijan side.

To remind, NATO's similar exercises took place in Armenia in the summer of 2003. Then the Armenian side invited both Azerbaijan and Turkish servicemen, but Azerbaijan refused to take part in the exercises.

Editors note: See also the article "Azerbaijan Foreign Minister hopes public will be tolerant towards Armenian servicemen's visit to Baku".

Source: Rosbalt News Agency