YEREVAN, July 20 (Xinhua) — The Armenian government has approved an agreement on a joint military force with Russia, the official Armenpress news agency reported Thursday.
The government-approved draft legislation will be presented to Parliament for approval, the report said.
Armenia and Russia signed an agreement in November 2016 to establish a joint military force to ensure security in the Caucasus region.
The joint force will conduct border patrols in designated areas, take part in air defense, and offer aerial protection to troops and objects of top priority of the two countries within the region.
Russia's State Duma, the lower house of parliament, ratified the agreement on Friday.
Armenia has been in close cooperation with Russia in the field of security since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Russia established a military base in Armenia in 1995, and the two countries agreed in 2010 to extend the contract until 2044.