June 12, 2003 - 23:03 AMT
US NOT PLANNING TO STATION TROOPS IN AZERBAIJAN YET, US AMBASSADOR SAID
The US does not plan to station troops and military bases in the territory of Azerbaijan. As reported by "Arminfo" agency, US ambassador to Azerbaijan Ross Wilson told "Echo" Baku newspaper. In his words, long before the start of the Iraqi war US armed force planning structures discussed the issue of locating US troops in places where challenges of the 21-st century might have been encountered. Since the Cold War, R. Wilson noted, a 60-thousand US contingent is in the FRG and some 100 thousand - in other parts of Western Europe. "However, the final decision on where we can station these troops is not made yet. I can clearly tell you that we do not plan stationing US troops and military bases in Azerbaijan," - the ambassador noted.