Russia to begin arms shipments to Kyrgyzstan soon: report December 16, 2013 - 17:40 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia will begin arms shipments to Kyrgyzstan in the near future as part of a $1 billion deal signed last year to modernize the Central Asian country’s military, Kyrgyzstan’s president said, according to RIA Novosti. “After reaching a historic agreement with Russia to reorganize our armed forces, all of the paperwork has been completed and we will soon receive deliveries of artillery pieces, tanks, shoulder-fired antiaircraft missiles and other military equipment,” Almazbek Atambayev told a news conference Monday, Dec 16. He said the newly modernized army will be ready to defend the country by 2017. The two former Soviet nations signed a 15-year agreement in September 2012 on maintaining Russian bases in the Central Asian country. Kyrgyzstan will be forgiven $500 million in debt as part of that agreement. Last month Kyrgyzstan officially notified the United States that American access to Kyrgyzstan’s Manas airbase will be suspended next summer. The airport has been a major transit point of troops and equipment for the war in Afghanistan since 2001. The U.S. expects to end combat operations in Afghanistan by the end of next year. Related links:   Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.   Partner news |  Latest news Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan  A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia.U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel.Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. |
