Armenia and Russia to sign agreement on united group of troops

Armenian Minister of Defense Vigen Sargsyan stated this in the interview to Russian “Izvestia” newspaper during his official three-day visit to Moscow.

Vigen Sargsyan noted that his visit will include the meeting with Russian Minister of Defense Sergey Shoigu, where the parties intend to sign the 2017 cooperation program of Armenian and Russian Defense Ministries, apart from the abovementioned agreement.

Touching upon the idea of a united group of troops of the two countries, Minister Sargsyan said the following: “In the scheme of things it was created a long time ago. We celebrate the anniversary of the group on September 27 each year since 2000. It was based on the agreement on joint planning of use of troops (forces) for provision of common security of Armenia and Russia, signed 16 years ago in Sochi.”

According to the Minister, the new agreement on the united troops group will set the goal of the group, its task, staff, as well as organization of mutual collaboration, management system, logistical and financial provision, and other points on intergovernmental level and in the normative legal regard.
“The main task of the united group of troops will be to prepare for offensives against Armenia and Russia, detect these offensives timely and throw them back,” the Minister said.

Vigen Sargsyan attached special importance to the group being stationed in Armenia, given the volume of operative and strategic issues that need to be solved.

The Minister’s visit will also include the meeting with Defense Minister of Belarus, Lieutenant-General Andrei Ravkov, and signing of the 2017 cooperation program between Defense Ministries of Armenia and Belarus. --0--