US views status of military unit in Gyumri as a bilateral issue

Status of the Russian military unit deployed in Armenia’s Gyumri town is a bilateral issue between Armenia and Russia, such kind of view shared Mark C. Toner, Acting Deputy Department Spokesman. 

“I think we’d view it as a bilateral issue between Russia and Armenia. Obviously, the United States enjoys a strong partnership with Armenia. We have every expectation that this will continue. And Russia is a member of the OSCE Minsk Group and so is playing a constructive role in that capacity,” Toner said when asked about military agreement that Russia and Armenia concluded.

The 102nd Russian military unit is deployed in Armenia in line with the agreement signed on March 16, 1995. The unit’s tasks are to defense strategic security of border, defense interests of Russia, defense security of Armenia, and include joint Armenian-Russian operative military efforts in line with CSTO document signed on May 15, 1992.

After talks between Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, held on August 20, the military agreement on deployment of Russian military unit in Gyumri was renewed.