Revising treaty on Russian military base not on agenda, says Armenian FM

YEREVAN, JANUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. Revising the treaty about the deployment of the Russian military base in Armenia is not on the agenda, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has said when asked about the possibility of such a move. 

“There is no such issue, the issue of the military base, on the agenda at least at this moment,” Mirzoyan said when asked whether any changes to the treaty are under consideration. 

He added that the deployment of Russian border guards in the Zvartnots airport and Armenia’s border with Iran and Turkiye has been temporary. 

“They rendered services to Armenia as long as Armenia isn’t capable of developing all necessary institutions and skills to ensure that mission on its own. At some point we thanked the Russian border service and told them that we are already able to deal with that issue on our own in Zvartnots airport, and afterwards we assumed full control over the checkpoint between Armenia and Iran,” Mirzoyan said at a press conference. 

The FM said this shows the development of Armenia’s capacity, and on the other hand it is a testament to the high level of trust between Armenia and Iran. 

In case of an open border with Turkiye, and the same trust, Armenia will consider the same issue on its border with Turkiye as well, he said.