Rent for Military Base in Response to Double Price for Russian Gas?

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia can demand rent for the deployment of the 102nd Russian military base if Russia raises the price of gas imported to Armenia. According to Armenian Parliament Speaker Artur Baghdassaryan, "with such a high price for gas it would be hard to explain why Armenia does not claim rental fee for deployment of the Russian military base." To remind, Russia decided to double the price of gas shipped to Armenia from $54 to $110.



The Russian military base was deployed in Gyumri in 1995 and performs the combat mission within the United System of the CIS Air-Raid Defense. In accord with the treaty the 25-year term of its presence in the republic may be prolonged for five more years with the consent of both parties. Presently Russia does not pay any rent for the deployment of the military base numbering 5000 servicemen. Besides, the Armenian party pays the bills for public utilities.



At the same time Chief of the Armenian Armed Forces General Staff, Colonel General Mikael Harutyunyan stated that the base is essential for "the security of Armenia and Russia's southern borders." "Small funds on mutually beneficial terms" are allotted for the financing of the base.