Armenian foreign minister meets pilots jailed in Equatorial Guinea

Mediamax news agency
22 Feb 05

YEREVAN

Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vardan Oskanyan discussed with
representatives of Equatorial Guinea's authorities the prospects of
signing a bilateral agreement on the extradition of prisoners.

As Mediamax learned in the press service of the Armenian Foreign
Ministry today, Vardan Oskanyan discussed this issue in order to
clarify the future of the six Armenian pilots serving their sentences
in Malabo. They were accused of participation in the preparation of a
coup d'etat against the authorities of Equatorial Guinea.

During his official visit to Malabo that started on 20 February, the
Armenian foreign minister met Equatorial Guinea's Prime Minister
Miguel Abia Biteo Boriko, the foreign minister, the state secretary
and the prosecutor-general.

The foreign ministers of Armenia and Equatorial Guinea signed a
memorandum on holding consultations between the two countries' foreign
ministries.

During his visit, Vardan Oskanyan met the Armenian pilots serving
their sentences in the prison of Malabo.

Official Yerevan has frequently stated earlier that the Armenian
pilots have not participated in the preparation of the coup d'etat in
Equatorial Guinea.