RUSSIA INTENDS TO STRENGTHEN ITS MILITARY PRESENCE ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.04.2009 17:30 GMT+04:00

Russia is looking forward to Armenian-Turkish border opening, which
will give solution to Russia’s political-military issues that became
exacerbated following August events in Georgia, Richard Goragosyan,
Director of Armenian Centre for Strategic and National Studies, told
PanARMENIAN.Net. "Russia intends to strengthen its military presence
on Armenian-Turkish border, especially in Gyumri region. In case of
opening the border, Moscow will anticipate Ankara’s permission for
using Turkish airbases," the Armenian expert stressed.

According to Mr. Giragosyan, even if Armenian-Turkish border is opened,
Russian frontier guards will remain on Armenian territory as security
guarantors.

Russian OSCE MG Co-Chair Yuriy Merzlyakov announced in Yerevan
that rumors on withdrawal of Russian military bases in case of
Armenian-Turkish border opening are untrue.