Pashinyan: The presence of Russia’s 102nd military base adds nothing to Armenia’s security — the September 2022 events showed this.

Arminfo.  Armenia has never raised the issue of withdrawing the 102nd Russian military base from its territory for discussion; it was Russia that raised this issue, while we merely built our position around it. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said this to journalists during a briefing on September 17.

At the same time, he stressed that the 102nd Russian military base is not of vital importance for Armenia’s security, as the events of September 2022 confirmed. , the prime minister stressed.

He noted that if Russia nevertheless makes such a decision, Armenia will not object.  Stating that the Russian Federation is a friendly country for Armenia, Pashinyan said that the Republic of Armenia is ready to discuss with the Russian side the conditions for the presence on its territory of a military base that Armenia does not need.  , the head of government said.

Commenting, at journalists’ request, on various opinions that the withdrawal of the Russian military base would cost Armenia dearly, the prime minister noted that there was no question of any additional financial burden.

It should be recalled that earlier Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia was ready to withdraw its troops from Armenia if Yerevan made such a request. Pashinyan later said that Armenia would not object if Moscow itself made the corresponding decision.

It should be noted that the Russian military base is stationed in Armenia pursuant to an interstate treaty dated 1995. In 2010, amendments were made to the document, under which the period of its presence on Armenian territory was extended from the initial 25 years to 49 years, until 2044.

In this regard, certain experts are asking what discussions the Armenian prime minister is referring to if all the conditions have already been established in the 1995 interstate treaty.