Deputy Foreign Minister related to integrated air defense system: Command of Armed Forces "in the air" will remain within Armenia's competence

The idea of creating Armenian-Russian integrated system of air defense can be considered both ways, as one can see both positive and negative aspects in it, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan stated after Armenian government's session today when commenting on the concern that as a result of establishment of joint regional air defense system between Armenia and Russia in Caucasian region of collective security Armenia in some sense looses independence in air space. 

According to him everything depends on implementation of this program. This idea can also be considered as an opportunity to conduct detailed monitoring of all the air space of the region, the foreign minister stated. "Armenia does not have such technical resources", he noted. 

"CSTO is divided into three regions: the western part where Belarus and Russia's joint system operates, Central-Asian region, where Air Forces of Russia and CSTO member countries operate and Caucasian region with armed forces of Armenia and Russia. Thus, only part of joint program within CSTO is being implemented", stated the deputy foreign minister of Armenia. He also assured that the command of Armenia's Forces in the air will remain within Armenia's competence. 

To note, Nikolay Bordyuzha, Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), told a news conference on June 8 that activities towards establishment of an integrated Armenian- Russian system have been held for several years already. In this light, he said, Russia has already integrated its air defense system with Belarus and Kazakhstan. "The Armenian-Russian Air Defense system will be the first stage. The second will integrate all the air defense systems in the territory of the CSTO," he said adding that it will help upgrade the security of the member- countries.

To recall, the Armenian Parliament is discussing the ratification of the Agreement on establishment of an Integrated Regional System of Air Defense in the Caucasian Region of Collective Security between Russia and Armenia.  Defense Ministers of Armenia and Russia, Seyran Ohanyan and Sergey Shoigu signed the above agreement in December 2015.