YEREVAN, MARCH 11, ARMENPRESS. The presence of the Russian 102nd military base in Armenia is a serious response to possible Turkish threats in the region, Armenia’s defense minister Vigen Sargsyan said during the Valdai visiting session, speaking on the Russian-Turkish relations and its impact on Armenia. “We proceed from the fact that few weeks ago an agreement on forming Armenian-Russian joint groups was signed and the 102nd military base in Armenia is a serious response to possible threats of Turkey in the region”, Sargsyan said.

According to him, if Russia succeeds in having a predictable and understandable Turkey, it can also stem from Armenia’s interests.

At the same time the minister said the Armenian people have sad memories from the past, when the Soviet leaderships signed various agreements with the Turkish authorities. “But, at the same time, we have to view how the Russian-Turkish relations will touch upon the region, he said.