Creation of the joint air defense system with Russia will only strengthen the combat ability of the Armenian armed forces, Deputy Defense Minister of Armenia Ara Nazaryan said in Parliament on June 28, when submitting for ratification the draft Armenian-Russian intergovernmental commission on creation of a joint air defense system in the Caucasus region.
The deputy minister noted that the agreement was signed on 23 Dec 2015 in Moscow. The agreement features the key principles of deployment and use of air defense forces. The agreement is signed for 5 years with possible further prolongation once every five years unless one of the parties notifies the other party of its intention to suspend the agreement at least 6 months prior to the expiry of the next term. According to the agreement, in time of peace the Armenian side will have the right to use the system at its own discretion and time of war there will be a joint use of the system.
Ara Nazaryan stressed that in addition to its own air defense system, Armenia will actually make use of the Russian Federation's resources. He said that there is nothing to worry about following the transfer of the Armenian air defense system under Russia's control. "Actually, we will receive an additional resource for the Armenian armed forces, especially as the air defense system will remain a national system," he said.
To note, "We Are the Owners of Our Country" initiative has been picketing the Armenian Parliament building for two days, opposing the ratification of the agreement on joint regional air defense system with Russia. The activists think that the ratification of the agreement will become treason amid the big threat of war resumption in the Karabakh conflict zone.
To recall, on October 23, 2015, the Russian Government approved the agreement on creation of a joint air defense system with Armenia in the Caucasus region of collective security. The document was submitted for the Russian President's ratification. The Russian President announced the creation of the air defense system in November 2013. On November 11, Russia's President Vladimir Putin ordered to sign agreement between Russia and Armenia on creating joint air defense system with Armenia in the Caucasus region of collective security. On December 23, 2015, Armenia's Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan and his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoygu signed an agreement on creation of a joint air defense system with Armenia in the Caucasus region of collective security. Some Armenian military experts think the joint air defense system is already operating, given the presence of the 102nd Russian military base in Gyumri, Russian S-300 systems and MiG-29 planes, as well as the joint command system in the North Caucasus.