We Must Modernize the Russian Presence: Kocharyan on the 102nd Military Base

Armenia needs to initiate a serious process with Russia to strengthen its military presence here. This opinion was expressed by the second President of Armenia, the leader of the 'Armenia' alliance, and candidate for Prime Minister, Robert Kocharyan, during a meeting with local residents in Maralik as part of the election campaign.

It is worth noting that one of the attendees at the meeting inquired about the potential expansion of the Russian 102nd military base located in Gyumri, as there had been previous discussions about construction projects that would also involve local residents.

Kocharyan emphasized, 'We should not view the Russian military base in terms of construction expansion; that is merely a side effect. Overall, the country’s security faces serious issues. Beyond addressing the restoration of our armed forces, we need to aim to modernize the Russian presence here.' He stated that this is both possible and necessary, considering the developments occurring in the region. He particularly highlighted the significant role of Turkey, which has been acting quite confidently in the area.

Kocharyan assured that when one looks at the map, it becomes clear that Russia could be the only restraining factor. However, he also noted that alongside this, we must increase our own weight so that our opinions are taken into account, meaning we should not just be peripheral voices, but that our words should carry weight.