YEREVAN (AFP)—On. Aug. 20, Armenia and Russia signed a deal extending Moscow’s military presence and making Russian troops responsible for Armenia’s national security.
The deal strengthens Moscow’s military clout in the strategic south Caucasus region and reinforces its alliance with Armenia, Moscow’s main regional ally.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his Armenian counterpart Serge Sarkisian signed the deal in Yerevan during a televised ceremony.
The deal will see Moscow extend its lease on a military base in Armenia from 2020 to 2044 and upgrade the mission of the estimated 3,000 Russian troops stationed there to include providing for Armenia’s security.
It also calls for Russia to assist Armenia in securing arms and modern military equipment.
The deal is likely to raise alarm bells in neighboring Azerbaijan, which is locked in a long-simmering conflict with Yerevan over Nagorno-Karabagh.
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Minas
August 20, 2010
The Russian – Armenian alliance is or can be a good thing.
But near-total control by Russia of Armenia’s military, economy, energy supplies, infrastructure, and political establishment is not a good thing because then Armenia loses its independence to act in its own best interests.
The defense pact with Russia may protect against a direct Azeri attack on Armenia but does it protect against an Azeri attack against only Artsakh? Probably not.
Osik
August 20, 2010
We didn’t have any other choice it was either this or what LTP started doing, that is giving away Artsakh and becoming a bridge between Caspian Oil and EU.
This was architected by Russians when the page turned to our favor in Artsakh conclict; LTP having Western centiments was toppled and we came victorious out of that dispute.
Now I dodn’t see how the NATO manuvers is going to take place.
ARA
August 20, 2010
Excellent- the Turks are not our friends-never have been and occupy our land-HISTORY SAYS IT ALL
ARA
August 20, 2010
If the Russians were not there to protect us- who else would have? We in the US need Turkey for obvious reasons-however Russia is our best protector there-without the Russification which we survived despite the losses since WW!.
Azeri gets there strength for Israel and Turkey-and all we got is Russia. Turkey is what it is because we in the US need them for location-good real estate!
Osik
August 20, 2010
Dear ARA,
I do understand that Russia helped us in Artsakh conflict and when I said Architected by Russians what I meant was they creating the whole thing from scratch; staring with Sumgait and Baku Pogroms; looking the other way when Azeri’s Killed, Roughed up and Exiled some Armenians, then fight started, first Azeris knocked on Stepanakerd’s doors, then Russians looked at the Chessboard and realized although Armenia doesn’t have any financial value like Azerbaijan does but its strategically is located between Turkey (that is the West) and Caspian; therefore they decided to allow Armenian to take Artsakh (and now they are going to Recognize it as independent like Bosnia); then they kicked LTP out and we all know the rest that for how many years they kept the region calm and when West pulled LTP out of bag again and tried to intervene with Armenian elections, they smashed it, then the new West (that is Obama/Clinton) with the hands of Turks put the “Protocol” Ace on the table with Armenia; where we all thought even Russia was pro “Protocol” until Obama scrapped Bush’s missile program; then they sent SS to London and we all know the rest.
You see how smart they moved; Armenia having Artsakh is tamed, Azerbaijan is isolated until they take care of it later, Turkey realizing they became the clown of the region are barking on USA, Israel, and EU and as a revenge are flirting with IRAN and Syria…….
Should I continue?
That’s why the best Chess player’s of the world are from Russia and Armenia.
mardehros
August 22, 2010
open your eyes! there’s no one else stepping up to help…
ARA
August 22, 2010
There is other help but none is as mighty as what Russia provides. The Soviets are gone-with Communism dead for the most part-we need them as has been obvious. It may take decades for a good society to be there-healthy, wealthy and secure -whatever that may mean. We need to thwart the local enemies that surround us and someday that will occur-as in a death to them-we do not know when. They occupy our land all over as we know and right now the wind is calm for them- we all over know. Russia is our only partner in true form along with some foreign Armenians and if u study history and war-u know- Das Zeit.
John
August 22, 2010
This article speaks nothing of the raping and continual theft of the economy that goes on by the ruling elite of Armenia. That alone is a threat to the future of Armenia and all Armenians around the world. Sarkisian and his type, who’s only real interests is lining his own pockets, needs to go. Also, every time we have relied upon others for our own well being we have lost. Every time we have fought together as a race for our rights and freedoms, we have won. Armenia’s security must come from our own people, money and military. Wasn’t Russia recently selling the Azeri’s 300-surface to air missiles? That alone tell you to trust no one other then our selves. And anyone who’s real interests are for themselves only they should be considered traitors.