“Upon Air Defense Agreement Armenia Possesses Air Defense, which Has neither Azerbaijan, nor Georgia”
Vagharshak Harutyunyan, former RA Minister of Defense, general-lieutenant, commented on Article 6 of air defense agreement, which is being criticized recently, “It states coordination of united Armenian air defense and other organizations (Belarus, Kazakhstan), which are involved in the same system. I mean this coordination. And regarding who controls and makes resolutions, then Russian units—air and Russian base, are under Armenia’s command. Resolutions are made by the Armenian side. So point 6 shouldn’t be touched upon at all. And who should coordinate activities, for instance with Belarus? Can Kazakhstan coordinate it?—Of course, not.”
Note, point 6 of air defense agreement presupposes, “Coordination of united operations of collective security of troops (forces) of united regional system of air defense in the Caucasus and of troops (forces) within other regional systems of air defense is performed by the commander of Russian Aerospace Defence Forces, and general control is performed by the commander of Northern Military District of Russian Federation.”
As for the accord, former Defense Minister considers by that Armenia has such air defense, which has neither Azerbaijan nor Georgia, “There are means, which aren’t possessed even by Turkey, so that the contract is in line with Armenia’s interests, provides our security, strengthens our independence and sovereignty.”
He also stated, that the accord acts only in case of aggression, “If aggression is recorded against Armenia or Russia, then it doesn’t function. For instance, Russia declares war to Ukraine, in this case we don’t implement operations there, as it’s not aggression against Russia. If we also launch war, then we don’t have any limitations upon this document. If it’s an aggression from Azerbaijan, then united system is functioning. It doesn’t function in Karabakh, however, we can move our military means to Karabakh, which we’ll do.”
By Razmik Martirosyan
