Without a Russian military base, it`s not the state but the security system that will be left ownerless – Samvel Karapetyan

ArmInfo. Without a Russian military base, it's not the state that will be left ownerless, since its owners are the people, but the security system. Samvel Karapetyan, leader of the Strong Armenia faction, expressed this opinion in an interview.

He emphasized that the 102nd Russian military base is a component of Armenia's security system. The politician discussed the logic of removing this component, given the parallel statements from the authorities that if Azerbaijan fires, Armenia will not respond. He deemed it inappropriate to abandon the Russian base without an alternative. In this regard, Karapetyan cited the example of Turkey, which hosts NATO bases, including those equipped with nuclear weapons. He also mentioned Israel, Germany, and Italy.

The authorities, in his opinion, have posed the greatest threat to Armenia's security system by depriving it of the ability to defend itself and the belief that it is capable of doing so. Today, as the politician noted, the authorities are destroying the security system without even a single proposal, while there are very few states in the world that can independently ensure their own security.

"And we have what we have—just a Russian military base—and today we are saying that we are giving it up," he said. When the interviewer pointed out that the Prime Minister had not made such a statement—he had merely said he was not opposed and was ready to discuss it—Karapetyan admitted that Nikol Pashinyan likely also understands that without this component, Armenia's security system would be left without a single owner.

Recall that on September 11, in a conversation with journalists, Samvel Karapetyan stated that without the Russian military base, "Armenia would be left without a single owner in the region."

Earlier, the Armenian Prime Minister emphasized during a briefing that he does not consider the presence of the 102nd military base in Armenia a vital necessity. "If Russia decides to withdraw its base from Armenia, we will not object, but if they wish to stay, we are ready to discuss that," he said.

In a conversation with journalists following the SCO summit and a series of bilateral talks in Bishkek, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared his readiness to withdraw the 102nd Russian base stationed in Gyumri "even tomorrow." "If Armenia believes that Armenia doesn't need a Russian military base, we will leave even tomorrow. Is Armenia ready for this?" "Please, we will not impose anything on anyone. And if the Armenian people want some kind of military 'Russian wing' there, then we will..." "We will remain close, we will work, we will cooperate," he said.

It should be noted that the Russian military base is stationed in Armenia in accordance with an interstate agreement from 1995. In 2010, the document was amended, extending its term of presence in Armenia from the original 25 years to 49 years, until 2044.