Yerevan /Mediamax/. Upon Mediamax’s request, First Deputy Minister of Defense of Armenia Davit Tonoyan commented on Armenia’s and Russia’s plans on setting up a Joint Regional Air Defense System of Collective Security in Caucasus.

On November 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed to sign the relevant document with Armenia. 

Davit Tonoyan told Mediamax that the document is worked out under the Decision of the CSTO Collective Security Council. The draft agreement was reviewed by Armenian and Russian Defense Ministries’ experts for several times; it has passed all the procedures of interstate harmonization in Armenia and was afterwards sent to the Russian side for the same procedure which was successfully completed.

The draft agreement is ready and the sides will agree on the date and location of its signing.

Davit Tonoyan noted that the agreement regulates bilateral relations but, according to the arrangement of the parties, it will be enforced within CIS and CSTO as well in case of violation of the air space of one of the sides.

Answering the question on the new components of the future agreement, Davit Tonoyan said:

“The document creates a legal basis for air defence system of collective security in the Caucasus region within the state borders of Armenia and Russia. In case of a need for protecting Armenia’s air space, it will allow engaging not only forces of the air defense and aviation of the 102nd Russian military base stationed in Armenia but also air defense and aviation of the South Military District of Russia. It will grant additional guarantees of security to Armenia and Russia”.

Answering Mediamax’s question whether the new agreement may be applied in case Azerbaijan restarts military actions in NK conflict zone, the First Deputy Minister of Defense of Armenia stated:

“I’m sure there are no grounds for doubting the effectiveness of air defense of the Defense Army of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic”.