Mediamax news agency, Yerevan, in Russian
27 Sep 05

Armenian president denies talks on reinforcing Russian base

YEREVAN

The Russian military base deployed in Armenia “is one of the
components ensuring security of our country”, Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan said in Yerevan today.

Robert Kocharyan said this in reply to the question from a Finnish
journalists at a joint briefing with Finnish President Tarja Halonen.

Sometimes we come across articles in the media that the Russian
military base was “dictated” to Armenia in its time, the Armenian
president said.

“This is absolutely incorrect approach, the base was deployed in
Armenia on the basis of a bilateral agreement and met our interests,”
Robert Kocharyan said.

The Armenian president noted that “we live in the difficult region
and the Russian base is one of the components ensuring our security”.
Armenia is not holding talks with Moscow on reinforcing the Russian
military base, Kocharyan said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress