ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
March 4, 2005 Friday

Russian force in Transcaucasia head introduced in Armenia

By Tigran Liloyan

YEREVAN

New commander of the Russian force in Transcaucasia Maj. Gen.
Alexander Bespalov was introduced to Armenian military commanders on
Friday.

First deputy commander of the North Caucasian military district Lt.
Gen. Alexander Postnikov-Streltsov introduced Bespalov to Armenian
Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisyan. The minister thanked former
commander of the Russian force in Transcaucasia Lt. Gen. Alexander
Studenikin for his service and wished him success, a source in the
Armenian Defense Ministry press service told Itar-Tass.

Sarkisyan and Postnikov-Streltsov discussed military cooperation
between Russia and Armenia. “Relations are developing well, they are
dynamic,” the minister said.

The 102nd base of the Russian Defense Ministry is stationed on the
Armenian territory under the Russian-Armenian 25-year agreement on
the Russian military base in Armenia of March 16, 1995, and the
bilateral treaty on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance of
August 29, 1997. The base is subordinated to the Russian force in
Transcaucasia.

Armenian authorities think that the Russian military presence on the
Armenian territory is an important component of the national
security, the press service said.