Armenia is open to military cooperation with Turkey

According to Mediamax news agency, Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian answering Armenian concerns about the possible participation of the Turkish military in the NATO Cooperative Best Effort 2003 exercise, requested that the situation not to be dramatized. NATO exercise will be held in Armenia next year within the framework of NATO program.

In reply to statements that Armenian and Turkish soldiers cannot be allies as the Cooperative Best Effort exercise presupposes, Sarkisian said, "Let us imagine that, God forbid, a militarized terrorist group, which would threaten both Armenia and Turkey, appears in the region. What shall we do in this case? Personally I will cooperate with Turkey with pleasure."

Besides, the Cooperative Best Effort exercise does not assume the imitation of large-scale military operations, and the participation of the Turkish military in the exercise will not be an irritating factor for Armenian society, the minister said.

Sarkisian currently holds the position of secretary-General of the Armenian National Security Board.

Armenian President Robert Kocharian in Prague summit gave green light for NATO exercise in Armenia.