“Air Defense to Control NATO Member Countries”
Last week RA NA Standing Committee approved to include the “Agreement on creating a united regional air defense system in the Caucasian collective security region between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia” into the agenda.
According to allegations of a range of analysts, in fact, upon that agreement Armenia’s air space will be handed to Russia, as by that the Armenian side is totally deprived of the sovereignty of making decisions.
“Coordination of joint operations is implemented by the commander of RF Aerospace Defense Forces, and total management to the commander of RF Northern Military District troops,” Ara Nazaryan said, adding that Armenia’s respective bodies will have the liability on local issues only, ““As for management of joint operations of united system troops of air defense of a separate region of collective security, it’s being implemented by head of Armenia’s Air Defense Force.”
Note, Davit Tonoyan, First Deputy Minister of Defense, clarified what the system supposes. During one of the interviews he said,
“The document provides legal grounds for creation of a united regional air defense system in the Caucasian region within the state border of Armenia and Russia. It will allow applying not only air defense of Russian 102nd air base and aviation, but also forces of RF Northern Military District during the defense of Armenia’s air space and objects within the territory of the state. It will provide additional guarantees to provide RA and RF security.”
Anatoly Tsyganok, head of the Center of Military Prognosis, Russian military expert, in an interview with 168.am, stated that formulations that upon this agreement Armenia is deprived of the right to manage its air space, are not grounded. He stated that the Caucasus is in the zone of activity of three military structures—NATO, CSTO and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
“Air defense united system is a part of CSTO security system. If you attentively follow the developments, you’ll see that security system mainly is developing throughout recent 25 years, if during this period agreements have been signed, nothing was done, agreements have been signed for 15 years, something was done, 5 years ago it was for the first time, when following the developments in Kyrgyzstan serious decision was made within CSTO.
Three years ago air defense united system was initiated—Belarus, Russia, Armenia, and last year Kazakhstan joined it. Last year Turkish planes failed to penetrate into Armenian air space, as that system was already active, and because this system controls Turkish and Georgian directions on account of connections of these countries with NATO. Air defense system controls NATO member countries.
Within this system member countries were provided the opportunity to perform joint operations and create systems within CSTO. Touching upon the issue, that this will provide Russia the opportunity to influence on security system, is not correct, as Armenia’s security system will be headed by RA president.
If there is military threat, the Armenian side will manage its forces, we have touched upon it,” he said, adding that the system activates information exchange between the countries, by that making air defense productive. ”Armenia’s president manages his forces,” Tsyganok concluded.
By Araks Martirosyan
