Russian President Medvedev on a state visit to Armenia

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived Thursday in Armenia on a visit that was expected to see the signing of a deal to allow a Russian military base to remain in the former Soviet nation through 2044.

Defense and energy cooperation, and prospects for a peaceful settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, top the agenda of the meeting between Medvedev and his Armenian counterpart, Serge Sarkisian, officials in Yerevan said.

A number of documents were scheduled for signing, including a protocol to extend the lease of the Russian military base in the northern Armenian town of Gyumri from 25 to 49 years. The extension plans have sparked heated opposition criticism of the Armenian government for allegedly selling short the country’s independence.

“Our country’s authorities say ‘yes’ to everybody; they accept every nal interests,” Stepan Safarian, leader of the National Aoffer opposing natiossembly’s tiny Heritage Party faction, told the news website EurasiaNet.org.

“In this case, Russia’s oversight and influence in the region once again get bigger, despite [Armenia’s] national interests.”

The agreement on deploying a Russian military base in Gyumri was signed 15 years ago and entered into force two years later, in 1997, for a period of 25 years. Russian news agency Interfax reported that the Russian government in July proposed amending the agreement to 49 years. The lease will automatically renew for another five years if neither side calls for its cancellation six months before the end of that period.

Speaking on public television Aug. 5, National Security Council Secretary Arthur Baghdasarian dismissed objections to the proposed changes.

Russia’s military presence in Armenia may be intended to defend Russian interests, he said, but added: “As Armenia’s military and strategic ally, Russia undertakes the protection of our country together with the Armenian armed forces.”


/Hurriyet Daily News/