No plans to expand Russian base in Armenia – general staff

RIA Novosti, Russia
September 28, 2006

YEREVAN, September 28 (RIA Novosti) – There are no plans to increase
the number of personnel and military equipment at a Russian base in
Armenia, the country’s chief of the general staff said Thursday.

The Russian 102nd military base in Gyumri, about 120 kilometers (75
miles) from the Armenian capital Yerevan, is part of a joint air
defense system of the Commonwealth of Independent States, which was
deployed in Armenia in 1995.

"We are not planning the expansion of the Russian base in Armenia,"
Mikael Arutyunyan said, adding that the base will be equipped with
modern weaponry instead, and the level of combat training improved to
ensure the base fulfills its mission.

The base operates under the authority of the Russian group of forces
in the South Caucasus, and is equipped with S-300 (SA-10 Grumble) air
defense systems, MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters and 5,000 personnel.

Part of the military equipment from Russian bases in Georgia will be
transferred to the base in Gyumri by the end of 2008.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS