YEREVAN (Azatutyun,am)–Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan watched on Wednesday exercises held by a joint Russian-Armenian military force which Moscow and Yerevan agreed to reinforce two years ago.
The week-long exercises began on Monday, with hundreds of Armenian and Russian soldiers backed up by tanks, artillery systems and combat helicopter simulating defensive operations. Armenia’s Defense Ministry reported earlier that one of their objectives will be to “step up protection of the state border.”
A ministry statement released on Wednesday said military officials briefed Tonoyan on the course of the drills held at the Marshal Bagramyan training ground 50 kilometers west of Yerevan. The minister then watched soldiers of the Russian-Armenian United Grouping of Troops defeat an imaginary invader, said the statement.
The joint force was originally set up in 2000. It comprises troops from the Russian military base in Armenia and the Armenian army’s Fifth Corps mainly deployed along the Turkish border. A Russian-Armenian agreement signed in November 2016 was meant to upgrade its mission and ascertain its command-and-control structure.
In particular, the agreement stipulates that the commander of the Russian-Armenian unit is appointed by Armenia’s political leadership. The commander is subordinate to the chief of the Armenian army’s General Staff in times of peace. He may report to the head of Russia’s Southern Military District in case of a war or imminent military aggression against Armenia or Russia.
Another Russian-Armenian agreement signed in late 2015 created a new, more closely integrated system of joint air defense. The Russian and Armenian militaries have been jointly protecting Armenia’s airspace ever since the mid-1990s.
So I guess our future is secure no matter what happens. No Turkish or Azerbaijani occupation of central Yerevan. The Russians have all but guaranteed our security, just like Soviet times…..
Yes Russia has guaranteed the existence of Armenia, so long as it fits into the Russian version of “security” i.e. arm all sides like the dupes they are and make a profit on them while they engage in conflicts with one another. And in the case of the biggest dupe, Armenia, put a Russian base there to protect Russian interests, and make Armenia pay for it.
That’s power, if Armenians don’t like this solution than they can go with Western powers, which so far most of them did not even recognize the Armenian Genocide, Armenia is obliged to serve the East or the West, and is lucky that meets with Russian interest, Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.
My problem is more with Armenian incompetence and the beggar mentality than a super power like Russia who practices imperialism like the other nations of the west. Armenians have been too stupid to use Russia correctly, unlike the Jews and the USA. They are winners. We are LOSERS. Armenia doesn’t even have the balls to confront a ridiculous nation like Azerbaijan as they are shooting at Armenian villages and kindergartens. That should tell you something.
Another joke meant to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes. All this means is that Armenia is not its own power, and is merely a subjugated pawn of Russia. Why? Simple. Holding a “military drill” with your host while your host arms your enemy and at the same time does not allow you to remove the threat, says everything we need to know. If this “alliance” was real, Azerbaijan would have had its military destroyed long ago, and Armenia would have only Turkey to worry about instead of being surrounded by both sides, thanks to Russia-Turkey “brotherly relations”.
Again…. when will there be a diaspora unit implemented within the Artsakh and Armenian militarily units? How ridiculous that we export our security. We need another 20-30k diaspora made up units that will absolutely guarantee Artsakh’s future by not only increasing the military body but also have a future combat ready army in case of all out war. Also many of the diaspora soldiers will stay after service and repopulate and contribute to Armenian/Artsakh proper in profound ways. And further, having young Diaspora soldier will draw in the concern and increase financial assistants and investment of the Diaspora itself because of having real family skin in the game..Its a win-win. WHEN WILL THIS HAPPEN????? WHEN??? WAKE UP ARMENIANS!