Federation Council ratifies protocol extending Russian base deployment in Armenia

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia's Federation Council ratified a protocol extending the validity of the agreement signed on March 16, 1995 on deployment of the Russian military base in Armenia from 25 to 49 years /till 2044/.

The agreement stipulates that after the expiration date the validity term will extend automatically for the next five-year periods, if neither of the parties notifies another one in written form about its intention to suspend it no later than six months before its expiration. The document signed in Yerevan on August 20, 2010, besides its direct functions to protect interests of the Russian Federation, also imposes on Russian military base the responsibilities to provide safety of the Trancaucasian country jointly with its own armed forces. Aimed at this, Russia will support Armenia in providing it contemporary and compatible armament, military /specific/ hardware. Funds for military-technical assistance must be envisaged by the RF federal budget.

The Russian 102nd military base is deployed in the territory of Armenia in compliance with the agreement signed on March 16, 1995. The task of the base is to provide strategic stability of the external border, protection of Russia’s interests and Armenia’s security, including through joint operative use of Russian and Armenian forces in accordance with the provisions of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) dated May 15, 1992. The divisions of the base are deployed in Gyumri and Yerevan. The total number of military men is about 3,5 thousand. The base includes three motorized infantry regiments, an artillery regiment and a tank battalion.

According to the military sources, the base is equipped with strong defensive armament. Since 2001, the anti-aircraft defense forces and means started permanent joint military duty, ITAR-TASS reported.