Armenia interested in expansion and upgrading of Russian 102d military base in Gyumri – Armenia’s DM

The Armenian side is interested in expansion and upgrading of the Russian 102d military base deployed in Gyumri, Armenia’s minister of defense Vagharshak Harutyunyan said in an interview to Russian RIA Novosti.

“The issue of expansion and reinforcement of the Russian military base in Armenia’s territory has always been on the agenda, and the Armenian side has always been interested in it with the simple reason that the base with all its staff is included in the joint group of the Armenian and Russian military forces and consequently the expansion of capacities of the base automatically implies increase of the collective security potential of the joint group in the Caucasian region acting on bilateral bases,” the minister said.

He also added that the leadership of the Russian Ministry of Defense has taken into account the existing military-political realities in the region and “made right steps toward the reinforcement and upgrading of the base.”

“I am convinced that this process will be a lasting one,” Harutyunyan said.