Those concerned about Armenia-Russia joint troops don’t fully realise what it’s meant for: Igor Korotchenko
On November 30 Defense Ministers of Armenia and Russia Vigen Sargsyan and Sergey Shoygu signed the agreement on Armenia-Russia joint troops, which caused concerns of the Armenian public. On official level it’s only known that 102nd military base deployed in Gyumri and Armenian military units will be involved in it, which will provide the security of the Caucasus. However, in fact, it’s not being publicized what functions the joint troops will implement, which, according to Artsrun Hovhannisyan, RA Defense Ministry spokesman, is secret information and isn’t subject to outreach.
Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of “National Defense” Russian Magazine, military analyst, told “168 Hours” that joint troops are meant for counteraction of such security challenges and threats, which may be actual for Armenia and Russia in the Caucasus region.
“It’s a crucial factor from the perspective of Armenia’s national security provision under growing risks and threats, those risks are everywhere,” Korotchenko said. He didn’t detail counteraction of which regional threats may be meant. In his words it’ll be decided by the sides, based on the situation and will undertake necessary steps. Korotchenko assures—this will arise predictability of risks and threats.
To the question why the Russian side intended to introduce changes in the agreement of joint troops, which according to Artsrun Hovhannisyan, existed yet from the 1990s, Korotchenko replied, that such troops didn’t exist between Armenia and Russia before. “The one claiming that such troops existed before, let him reply to that question. Those troops have been established recently, when Defense Ministers of Russia and Armenia have signed that agreement,” Korotchenko said.
It should be noted, that prior to signing of the agreement, in an interview with “Russia Segodnya” RA president Serzh Sargsyan stated, that the Armenian side will familiarize with the changes, which the Russian side has introduced in the document. Reflecting to concerns of the Armenian expert community, that despite existence of enshrined point in it, the troops will be managed by Russia, guided by its own national interests, Korotchenko stated that there is a word “joint” in the agreement.
“This means that military activity, decisions will be made jointly, for that very reason it’s called joint. Thus, if some have concerns, then it’s in brains of people, who don’t fully realize what is it and what’s it meant for,” Igor Korotchenko said, adding that in likewise troops decisions, military initiatives are implemented as a result of joint decision making. According to the latter, challenges are many in the region from all directions, as well as additional means, which will raise predictability, are never excessive.
Touching upon the deadlock in NK conflict settlement process, Russian military expert said, “Definitely, NK conflict should be, first and foremost, settled through political means, thus, all the sides, including Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, other sides interested in the settlement, should manage political dialogue. It’s another issue that it may last for 10-15-20-50 years. It’s somehow natural, but more preferable, than war.”
By Araks Martirosyan
