Russia Does Not Renounce Its Obligations to Armenia: Kopirkin

The collaboration between Russia and Armenia in the field of security remains one of the key areas of cooperation between the two countries. This was stated by the Russian Ambassador to Armenia, Sergey Kopirkin, in an interview with Armeniatoday.

Kopirkin asserted that Russia does not renounce its obligations established by agreements between the two countries. "The 102nd military base continues to operate, the number of our border guards has increased, and there are observation posts in the areas of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. Of course, our peacekeeping mission in Nagorno-Karabakh is a crucial factor in ensuring regional security. Unfortunately, from time to time, there are critical remarks directed at the peacekeeping force; however, this does not negate the fact that it is a key factor in ensuring the security and livelihood of the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh," remarked Kopirkin.

“Even now, when the corridor is closed, the peacekeepers play a very important role in preventing humanitarian crises and assisting in the delivery of vital supplies and food. Claims can be made against Russia and the Russian peacekeeping contingent, but the fact that Russian presence has been and remains a very crucial factor in preventing security and escalation of the situation does not require proof,” stated Kopirkin.

Regarding the issue of military-technical cooperation between the two countries, Kopirkin noted that this is a sensitive and non-public area. “It has traditionally been and remains an important part of our bilateral relations. There are relevant mechanisms in place to ensure cooperation in this area. As for joint exercises, this is generally a way to 'test the clock' concerning the planning of military operations and the use of joint armed forces. This is a fairly common process that takes place at various levels, and, as far as I know, Armenian units and specialists regularly participate in such events,” added the ambassador.

He further mentioned that a Russian military base operates in the Republic of Armenia, a joint troops group is active, and, of course, this entails joint activities and exercises on a fairly regular basis. “Let me add that when we talk about military-technical cooperation and joint exercises, we view this as a factor in ensuring the security of the Republic of Armenia and an integral part of our joint efforts to maintain and strengthen security in the region,” noted Sergey Kopirkin.