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THE BASES TO BRING "ISKANDER-M" COMPLEXES TO ARMENIA WERE LAID SINCE 2010
June 19 2013
It remains to verify whether they are provided to the armed forces
of Armenia or to 102nd Russian military base in Gyumri. It has been
two or three weeks since persistent rumors have circulated that
"Iskander-M" complexes were brought to Armenia. So far there are no
denials or approvals or, generally, a respond from the authorities
of Armenia in connection with the said information. In early June,
the sources of the Ministry of Defense confirmed the information to
the "Freedom" radio station about the fact that there are several
complexes of medium-range attacking missile of "Iskander-M" type in
the territory of Armenia. They are considered the most modern weapons,
the range of "Iskander-M" complexes is over 400 kilometers. On June 3,
"Stratrisks" periodical wrote that the source of the Defense Ministry
had noted that the location of "Iskander-M" complexes is a secret,
and refused to clarify whether the missile complexes would be
provided to Armenia's armed forces or to the 102nd Russian military
base in Gyumri. In fact, this is a very important question, because
deployment of such systems in Armenia may become an opportunity
of many different speculations, first from the West, and why not,
from the neighboring state Georgia. It is noteworthy to mention that
"Stratrisks" periodical has stated that the Russian-Armenian defense
agreement concluded in August of 2010 includes a provision according
to which Moscow is planning to supply "a modern military equipment of
special assignment" to Yerevan, and concluded, that, consequently,
the Russian support was focused on modernizing five-years of the
Armenian Army, which was adopted by Serzh Sargsyan in 2010. Indeed,
let us try to understand. Does Russia have the legal basis to take
such a step ...?
It appears that it has and its base were laid a long three years ago.
In 2010 Russia and Armenia extended the period of contract on
deployment of Russian base until the year 2044. The protocol was signed
in Yerevan in August 2010. The terms of the contract was for 25 years,
the protocol extends it up to 49 years (starting from 1995). On June
2011, the President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree on
ratification of the protocol regarding the extension of the period
for deployment of Russian military base in Armenia up to 2044. It's
worth to remind that the military base in Gyumri is included in the
Southern Military District of Russia, and the Russian military base
was significantly modernized. Three years ago, a big noise was raised,
and the issue was widely discussed as to why the terms of the contract
for deployment of the Russian base should be extended until 2044.
Different political opinions were voiced. Yet, another interesting
circumstance that deserved more attention was left out of attention
during those days. The Russian side along with the extension of the
terms on deployment of a military base provided for by the contract
has made a clever move, providing bases for further "modernization".
Here it is. The protocol adopted by RF and Armenia posted on the
official website of the President of Russia on June 27, 2011, says
the following that the Russian military base in the territory of
Armenia, in addition to protecting the interests of Russia, provides
the security of the Republic of Armenia together with the Armed Forces
of Armenia: "For this purpose the Russian side implements provision
of modern and compatible arms and special defense technology". Then it
is stipulated by the protocol: "The provision of modern and compatible
weaponry, military (special) equipment to armed forces of Armenia will
be implemented in cooperation with foreign countries in compliance
with the legislation on RF defense technology cooperation". Now the
questions whether "Iskander-M" complexes were brought in or not, or
why they are late, as the bases for bringing them into Armenia were
laid three years ago. The only interesting question that remains open
is this whether the "Iskander-M" complexes are provided to the Armed
Forces of the Republic of Armenia, or to the 102nd Russian military
base in Gyumri. Emma GABRIELYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/06/19/154945/
© 1998 - 2013 Aravot - News from Armenia
June 19 2013
It remains to verify whether they are provided to the armed forces
of Armenia or to 102nd Russian military base in Gyumri. It has been
two or three weeks since persistent rumors have circulated that
"Iskander-M" complexes were brought to Armenia. So far there are no
denials or approvals or, generally, a respond from the authorities
of Armenia in connection with the said information. In early June,
the sources of the Ministry of Defense confirmed the information to
the "Freedom" radio station about the fact that there are several
complexes of medium-range attacking missile of "Iskander-M" type in
the territory of Armenia. They are considered the most modern weapons,
the range of "Iskander-M" complexes is over 400 kilometers. On June 3,
"Stratrisks" periodical wrote that the source of the Defense Ministry
had noted that the location of "Iskander-M" complexes is a secret,
and refused to clarify whether the missile complexes would be
provided to Armenia's armed forces or to the 102nd Russian military
base in Gyumri. In fact, this is a very important question, because
deployment of such systems in Armenia may become an opportunity
of many different speculations, first from the West, and why not,
from the neighboring state Georgia. It is noteworthy to mention that
"Stratrisks" periodical has stated that the Russian-Armenian defense
agreement concluded in August of 2010 includes a provision according
to which Moscow is planning to supply "a modern military equipment of
special assignment" to Yerevan, and concluded, that, consequently,
the Russian support was focused on modernizing five-years of the
Armenian Army, which was adopted by Serzh Sargsyan in 2010. Indeed,
let us try to understand. Does Russia have the legal basis to take
such a step ...?
It appears that it has and its base were laid a long three years ago.
In 2010 Russia and Armenia extended the period of contract on
deployment of Russian base until the year 2044. The protocol was signed
in Yerevan in August 2010. The terms of the contract was for 25 years,
the protocol extends it up to 49 years (starting from 1995). On June
2011, the President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree on
ratification of the protocol regarding the extension of the period
for deployment of Russian military base in Armenia up to 2044. It's
worth to remind that the military base in Gyumri is included in the
Southern Military District of Russia, and the Russian military base
was significantly modernized. Three years ago, a big noise was raised,
and the issue was widely discussed as to why the terms of the contract
for deployment of the Russian base should be extended until 2044.
Different political opinions were voiced. Yet, another interesting
circumstance that deserved more attention was left out of attention
during those days. The Russian side along with the extension of the
terms on deployment of a military base provided for by the contract
has made a clever move, providing bases for further "modernization".
Here it is. The protocol adopted by RF and Armenia posted on the
official website of the President of Russia on June 27, 2011, says
the following that the Russian military base in the territory of
Armenia, in addition to protecting the interests of Russia, provides
the security of the Republic of Armenia together with the Armed Forces
of Armenia: "For this purpose the Russian side implements provision
of modern and compatible arms and special defense technology". Then it
is stipulated by the protocol: "The provision of modern and compatible
weaponry, military (special) equipment to armed forces of Armenia will
be implemented in cooperation with foreign countries in compliance
with the legislation on RF defense technology cooperation". Now the
questions whether "Iskander-M" complexes were brought in or not, or
why they are late, as the bases for bringing them into Armenia were
laid three years ago. The only interesting question that remains open
is this whether the "Iskander-M" complexes are provided to the Armed
Forces of the Republic of Armenia, or to the 102nd Russian military
base in Gyumri. Emma GABRIELYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/06/19/154945/
© 1998 - 2013 Aravot - News from Armenia