March 20, 2003 - 18:08 AMT
ARMENIA SHOULD KEEP BALANCE UNDER CONDITIONS OF WAR IN IRAQ, ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAID
The war in Iraq does not and will not pose an ecological threat to Armenia. Armenian foreign minister Vardan Oskanian said when addressing the parliament. In his words, as reported by "Arka" agency, under the current conditions many countries are curious about Armenia's stand on the war in Iraq. The minister reported he had had numerous intense talks with both advocates and opponents of the war. In V. Oskanian's words, "balance should be kept here." "Armenia will observe the happenings at a short distance and will determine the further steps depending on the developments," - the Armenian foreign ministry head noted. At the same time he emphasized that the Armenian leadership was more worried about the fate of the Armenian community of Iraq, as the Armenian embassy officers had already left the country. V. Oskanian reported that the foreign ministry had prepared free visas for those willing to come to Armenia and had made arrangements with transit countries on their unhampered movement. The foreign minister noted the need for presence of representatives of Armenia in Iraq to render aid to the Armenian community in case of state of emergency and added, "relevant groups are already formed."