ArmInfo. "The Russian border troops guard the Armenian-Turkish border, which is very important for Armenia." Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan stated in an interview with the radio station Ekho Moskvi, referring to the possibility of changing the status of the Russian border troops in Armenia.
"It's very good for us that our armed forces are in fact exempt from this obligation, because it would be a great burden for us to assume the responsibility of protecting this long border," the Armenian Prime Minister noted.
Pashinyan again stressed that the issue of revising the status of the Russian border troops fulfilling a mission in Armenia is not on the agenda of Russian-Armenian relations: "I have repeatedly stated this, unfortunately, these my announcements are not noticed by some Russian political scientists, experts".
As for the 102nd Russian military base in Gyumri, it, according to the prime minister, is a very important part of the security system of the Republic of Armenia. "We have agreements, and under these agreements this military base has specific obligations. This does not mean that we have no problems with the activities of the military base and so on, but in general, the existence of the 102nd Russian military base in Armenia corresponds to the national interests of the republic. It is not something that corresponds to my ideas or representations of this or that government. This corresponds to the national interests of the Republic of Armenia - it is clear to everyone," Pashinian said, adding that this issue can not be revised.
The border control of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) in Armenia is engaged in protecting the state border of Armenia with Turkey and Iran. The Russian Federal Security Service in Armenia includes four border detachments - in Gyumri, Armavir, Artashat and Meghri, as well as a separate checkpoint at Zvartnots International Airport in Yerevan. The upkeep of Russian border guards in Armenia is provided by the governments of both countries.
As for the 102nd Russian military base, it is located in the city of Gyumri. The base is on alert duty in the framework of the unified air defense system of the CIS countries. On 20 August 2010, the Russian Federation and Armenia extended the term of the agreement on the deployment of the base till 2044. The base is equipped with anti-aircraft missile systems of S-300V SAM, Buk-M1-2, light front-line modern fighters of the fourth generation of MiG-29, military transport helicopters Mi-8MT and Mi-24P.