Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
September 30, 2005, Friday

ARMENIA IS INTERESTED IN A RUSSIAN MILITARY BASE ON ITS TERRITORY

Source: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, September 28, 2005, p. 5

On September 27, at a joint press conference with Tarya Halonen, the
president of Finland, Robert Kocharyan, the president of Armenia,
said Armenia is interested in the location of Russian military base
on its territory. “The presence of a Russian military base in Armenia
is meant for security and is part of the Armenian security program,”
Kocharyan said. He denied the information that Russia imposes its
military presence on Armenia. “Armenia is interested in the location
of a Russian military base on its territory, because the country is
situated in a troublesome region where conflicts are not rare. Russia
and Armenia have a mutual agreement on the subject, which is recorded
in a treaty,” noted President Kocharyan. However, he said at present
there would be no further strengthening of Russian military presence
in Armenia.