Expert opinion: extension of military base deployment allowed Russia to strengthen its position in the region, extruding the West

PanARMENIAN.Net - By extending the military base deployment term in Armenia, Russia aims to benefit from current situation in the country, according to assistant lecturer at Yerevan State University’s Sociology Department Artak Hayunts.

As he noted at international scientific conference on Armenia-Russia relations in the light of regional security and stability, the extension of deployment term allowed Russia to strengthen its position in the region, extruding the West. Though skeptical about the deployment agreement, the expert supported the idea on the necessity of Russian military base in Armenia until Karabakh conflict is settled and Armenia-Turkey relations normalized.

Also the expert characterized the possibility of Russia’s supplying S-300missyle system to Azerbaijan as running counter to the new agreement on allied partnership with Armenia.