Opposition faction head stresses necessity of creation second Russian military base in Armenia’s Syunik

Leader of parliamentary opposition faction Bright Armenia Edmon Marukyan stated about the necessity of creation second Russian military base in the territory of Armenia’s Syunik.

In a statement released today he said that on December 5 he spoke about the necessity to upgrade the agreement base by signing a new security agreement with Armenia’s strategic partner – the Russian Federation – after which the known developments took place in Syunik.

He stressed that the deputies of the faction visited Syunik, the results of the visits have been summed up and key points have been outlined.

Marukyan stressed that Russia, on behalf of highest leadership, undoubtedly played resolute role in ending hostilities in Nagorno Karabakh and the Armenian people highly value and are thankful that Russian peacekeeper stands by the side of its soldiers and people.

“This is why Bright Armenia party immediately after the end of the heated phase of the conflict stated about the urgent necessity of creation of new security mechanisms for Armenia, the region, and in particular a new agreement on in-depth military-political cooperation between the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation,” the statement of the party’s leader says.

He stressed that as a result of their visit and contacts with residents of Syunik they understood that the people there have serious concerns that the enemy may impinge on their settlements, as the border is very close to them.

Marukyan stressed as far as the Republic of Armenia is in the same security zone as the Russian Federation in the conditions of operation of the existing military-politically agreement base and particularly the agreement on collective security and 5 inter-state agreements they offer to unite the inter-state agreements into one wide agreement on in-depth military-political cooperation between the two countries.

In the statement Marukyan stressed that the issue on Syunik’s security must have a special place in the agreement.

“Evidently, the changes in the military-strategic positions in Artsakh have created a number of threats to peaceful and secure life of Armenia’s citizens in Syunik… In this regard we consider it vital to launch urgent negotiations on deployment of new Russian military base in Syunik region.
The military base on one hand will become a reliance for effective, speedy and mobile functioning of the Russian peacekeeping forces in Artsakh and on the other a guarantor of lasting peace and security in the region that enters into united zone of security of CSTO and is the border between the EAEU and Iran,” Marukyan’s statement says.

He stressed that the experience of the 102d Russian military base in Gyumri is key to efficiency of such mechanism of ensuring security. For decades the base ensures the inviolability of Armenian-Turkish border.

Marukyan said the party is currently working out the key positions of proposed agreement and deployment of new Russian military base in Syunik and will actively promote the realization of the mentioned mechanism as ensuring secure life of the citizens is the key issue for them.