ArmInfo. The agreements between Yerevan and Moscow allow the Armenian side to buy latest Russian weapons on the most competitive terms, but a number of types of Chinese weapons can also be interesting to the Armenian side.
As the "Armenia" TV channel broadcasts, a similar point of view was expressed by Armenian Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan who is in China on an official visit.
"We have our main ally (Russia - Ed.), which today is one of the largest arms suppliers in the world, with which there are understandings that allow us to acquire the most advanced weapons in the most competitive conditions," the head of the Armenian Defense Ministry said. He added that if there are other opportunities outside these agreements that will interest the Armenian side, including those related to the Chinese arms suppliers, a dialogue will be conducted.
At the same time, Sargsyan stressed that 10 million yuan (about $ 1,522,400) will be acquired for weapons of non-lethal action, as these are the rules of international military assistance. "In order to organize military affairs, we need funds, starting with observation devices and ending with communication facilities, with numerous auxiliary devices." Without revealing the details, I will use this to comply with the adopted rules," the minister said. At the same time, he added that following the results of the meetings in the NKR, he can say that Beijing will be consistent in its position on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement. "This approach, as you know, has been balanced over the years - priority is given to the mediation activities of the OSCE Minsk Group," Sargsyan said.
He also noted that China's interest in the region is increasing, the country's government announced its intention to build a new Silk Road: "Any integration structure, or similar program, always carries the task of ensuring security. Therefore, China's interest is commensurate and clear, it will be linked to ensuring the security of the "Economic belt of the Silk Road," the minister concluded.
To remind, according to the Armenian-Russian agreement on granting Armenia a 200-million loan, for this amount the Armed Forces of the republic purchased multiple rocket launchers 9K58 Smerch, IGLA SAM, passive electronic intelligence complex Avtobaza-M, fire-fighting systems TOS-1A "Solntsepek", armored vehicles "Tiger", anti-tank missile systems "Contest-M", antitank grenade launchers RPG-26, small arms, engines and sights for T-72 and BMP tanks, communications equipment, engineering equipment, Kamaz ". The agreement on granting credit on preferential terms - to repay a loan with a 3% rate Yerevan will start only in 2018 in rubles for 10 years, and an advance payment of only 10% was concluded in 2015. Thus, taking into account the continuing devaluation of the Russian currency, as well as the republic's membership in the CSTO, which allows buying weapons at domestic prices, for $ 200 million, Armenia can acquire an unlimited amount of Russian arms.