Hot debates in Armenian Parliament over creating the United Group of Armenian-Russian troops: Block Yelk considers the document humiliating and "vassal"
ArmInfo.Armenian Parliament started to discuss agreement on creating United Group of Armenian-Russian troops.
According to the statement of the Deputy Defense Minister of Armenia Artak Davtyan from the platform of Parliament, the agreement was signed in November 2016 by the heads of the defense departments of the two states. The main task of the group is to cover the overland part of the state border of Russia and Armenia, including jointly with the forces and means of the CSTO collective security system. The agreement envisages the creation of a unified grouping of the two countries in the Caucasus region of collective security. The created structure should ensure an adequate response to an armed attack, as well as other challenges and threats to the security of the parties. The commander of the group is appointed Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Armenia in agreement with the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Russia.
Directives of operational control to the commander of the group are developed by the headquarters of the Southern Military District of Russia and the operational department of the General Staff of Armenia, after which they are vetted by the chiefs of the General Staff of both sides. In peacetime, the commander of the group reports to the General Staff of Armenia, and in wartime, as agreed by the parties, it is also possible to reassign the commander of the Southern Military District of Russia. The material and technical and financial support of their troops (forces) allocated to the combined group, creation and replenishment of stocks of material resources to the agreed standards are carried out by the parties independently. In cases where the material and technical support of the troops is difficult, replenishment of stocks of materiel, the restoration of weapons and military equipment, the performance of other logistical support activities can be carried out at the expense of one of the parties, while replenishment of the spent material means, subsequent mutual settlements for the provided material means and services are carried out by additional agreement between the authorized bodies.
Against the signing of this agreement were the deputies from the opposition bloc "Elk", who advocate for Armenia's withdrawal from the Eurasian Economic Union. Representatives of the bloc, in particular, believe that such agreements jeopardize the sovereignty of Armenia, plunging the republic into even greater dependence on Russia. Thus, the head of the bloc faction Nikol Pashinyan stated that the more Russia neglects the interests of Armenia and deepens military-strategic cooperation with such countries as Azerbaijan and Turkey, the more actively the leadership of the RA led by Serzh Sargsyan goes on signing such "humiliating documents" with Moscow. "Serzh Sargsyan completely lost the security component of Armenia from Russia's submission. After every next military deal of Russia with Azerbaijan and Turkey, Armenia signs a new humiliating contract with Moscow, placing it under direct dependence of the Russian Federation. And what does Russia do, supplies S-400 air defense systems of Turkey, which, of course, if necessary, will use them in Azerbaijan's interests, in that case our Iskanders will turn into a toy, "Pashyanin said, Serzh Sargsyan's coming to power inherited from Vazgen Sargsyan's most efficient army of the region remained only in words.
To recall, on March 15, 2017, the presidents of Russia and Armenia - Vladimir Putin and Serzh Sargsyan - announced on the results of the talks in the Kremlin that the created Joint Group of Forces of the two countries was highly appreciated. "The Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia will strengthen the role of the Collective Security Treaty Organization as a guarantor of the security of its member states, contribute to increasing its contribution to international efforts to counter the challenges and threats to security," the statement said. - In this context, the creation of the Joint Group of Forces (Forces) of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia and the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is of great importance. "