Sergey Minasyan: “Armenian military industrial sector might be interesting for Russia”

As part of the recent visit to Yerevan Secretary of the Security Council of Russia, Nikolai Patrushev, has signed the Protocol on establishing in Armenia new Armenian-Russian military technical facilities. The document presupposes participation of Russia in modernization of boundary infrastructure between Armenia and Turkey and Armenia and Iran. For example, Armenian-Russian centers on border guard training will be established. Deputy Director of the Institute Kavkaz, Sergey Minasyan, answers VK’s questions on military technical cooperation.

-          Please, characterize the Protocol on establishing in Armenia new Armenian-Russian military technical facilities from the point of view of both sides.

-          The document shows succession of cooperation in the wide context of security in the former Soviet space, in the context of regional security, and in the context of stability in a zone of regional conflicts. The Protocol correlates with improving cooperation between Armenia and Russia in other spheres. The document will be a significant addition to the block of Armenian-Russian relations, including social, economic, political and humanitarian cooperation.

Armenia is interested in this document in the context of modernization and renovation of its armament of Soviet and Russian origin. Russia is interested in it from the economic point of view, as Russian enterprises will be involved in fulfillment the document.

-          It was decided to prepare a new agreement on cooperation between Russia and Armenia in the military technical sphere. Would a new document be better than the previous one?

-          It is not the point whether it would be better or worse. Due to development and improvement of military technical cooperation (MTC), there is necessity in enhancement and addition of the agreement on MTC, which was adopted during the visit of President Medvedev to Armenia in August 2010.

-          Could signing of the document be connected with straining situation around Iran?

-          Terms of visits of Russian top officials to Armenia could be connected with the situation, but not preparation of the document, which is continuation of close cooperation between two countries in the military technical sphere.

-          On December 20, 2011, the CSTO made a decision on prohibition of location military bases of the CSTO non-members in territories of the countries-members without agreement of all partners of the treaty. Views of Armenian experts differed: some thinks the decision threatens Armenian sovereignty, others have the opposition opinion…

-          This decision by the CSTO doesn’t threaten sovereignty of Armenia. According to the additional Protocol №5 signed by Armenia and Russia in 2010, the Armenian side agreed for location of a Russian military base in its territory by 2044. In this context the decision by the CSTO is not something extraordinary.

-          Please, characterize military technical cooperation between Armenia and Russia? What prospects do you see in this sphere?

-          I think it will develop in all directions. However, priority will be for providing Armenian armed forces with modern systems of armament, first of all, with air defense systems, as well as modernizations and providing new armored armament.

Prospects in the sphere of military technical cooperation vary due to two aspects. We couldn’t provide modernization or renovation of armament of the Armenian army of Soviet or Russian origin without participation of the direct producer.

On the other hand, establishing service centers on renovation and service of military equipment in Armenia could provide conditions for future joint entrance to regional markets on modernization of Soviet and Russian military equipment. It could be Iran, some Arab countries, and under certain conditions Georgia.

Interview by Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively to VK