Karen Ghazaryan
“Radiolur”
Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania has arrived in Armenia for a two-day official visit. The Defense Ministers of Armenia and Georgia Seyran Ohanyan and Irakli Alasania had a meeting at the Administrative Complex of the Ministry of Defense, after which they presented the results of discussions at a joint press conference.
“Armenian and Georgian peoples are not only neighbors, but also friends. The historic friendship will not allow us not to maintain the good-neighborly relations,” Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania said.
“Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili’s visit to Armenia also indicates that our relations should develop and deepen in the future,” he added.
Asked about the position on Azerbaijani threats to shoot down civilian aircrafts, Irakli Alasania said it cannot be acceptable to anyone, be it Defense Minister or someone else.
“I think we have spoken enough about regional security, and have stressed that all conflicts and misunderstandings should be solved exceptionally in a peaceful way. I’m confident that with our joint efforts regional security will be satisfying to us all and for the civilian aircrafts, as well.”
Touching upon Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili’s statement that the Russian military base in Armenia is a threat to Georgia, Irakli Alasania said: “We have discussed with my Armenian counterpart all risks that exist in the region. The Russian military bases in Abkhazia and Ossetia pose a threat to Georgia, However, as regards the military base located in Armenia, we are confident that the Armenian side will never allow the military base to be used against Georgia,” the Defense Minister said.
“The Armenian-Georgian military cooperation is on a high level, and continues to develop dynamically. We have similar positions on issues of regional security, particularly the settlement of conflicts,” Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan said.
