Thursday, February 25 2021 11:56

ArmInfo.A working group to develop a reform concept to be  formed in Armenia armed forces of the country. Prime Minister Nikol  Pashinyan announced this at a government meeting on February 25.

In his words, the decision on the formation of a working group headed  by RA Defense Minister Vagharshak Harutyunyan will be signed today.

The prime minister recalled that according to the 8th paragraph of  the "road map" published by him on November 18 last year, it was  envisaged to approve the program of reforming the armed forces and  decide on its start. Over the past several months, Nikol Pashinyan  continued, intensive discussions were held on this issue, as a result  of which agreements were reached on some preliminary conclusions. It  is envisaged, in particular, to establish closer relations with  Armenia's strategic ally number one - the Russian Federation. "We are  confident that as a result of this process, cooperation will become  even more effective in the field of security, military development  and military-technical cooperation," Nikol Pashinyan said. He  expressed the hope that before summarizing the results of the road  map in July this year, most of the work on the development of the  concept will be completed, which will make it possible to start  implementing the decisions.

Let us remind that earlier the Russian ambassador to the RA Sergey  Kopyrkin reported that Russia is already taking an active part in the  restart and reform of the armed forces of Armenia. He added that now  there are very intensive contacts between the Defense Ministries of  Armenia and Russia in various directions. According to him, issues  are being discussed in various areas of strengthening bilateral  cooperation between the countries and the armed forces of the two  states. "As for the figures for the Russian base in Armenia (meaning  the number of military personnel - ed.), It is not my prerogative to  be the first to give information on this matter. This will be done by  the people who are directly responsible for this," the ambassador  noted.