YEREVAN, October 5. /ARKA/. The Armenian National Assembly ratified Thursday an agreement on Armenian-Russian joint troops. 

As many as 87 members of parliament voted for the agreement, and seven from YELQ (Way Out) opposition bloc against it. 

Artak Zakaryan, first deputy defense minister, presenting the agreement to the lawmakers, said that the agreement makes it possible to use the joint troops in the event of outside threat or military attack against Armenia. 

“In fact, we gets access to armament and technical equipment of Russia’s army as well as the opportunity to use its airspace resources and navigation equipment, including radar and air-defense resources,” 
Zakaryan said adding that any decision will be made by the two countries’ chief commanders. 

In his words, the agreement lays ground for strengthening defense and for using arms, which can be applied in the common interest. 

The deputy minister stressed that the united troops will not be used for solving interior political conflicts in Armenia or Russia. The joint troops will be run by the united command. 

The agreement is signed for five years, and it can be prolonged automatically for other five years. 

The document was signed by the countries on November 30, 2016. 

Russia’s parliament ratified it on July 14, 2017. –0—