Russian Ambassador: withdrawal of 102nd military base not on Armenia-Russia agenda

Russia’s Ambassador to Armenia, Sergey Kopirkin, has stated that the withdrawal of the Russian 102nd military base is not on the agenda of Armenia–Russia bilateral relations. He made this remark in an interview with the Syunyats Yerkir newspaper.
“The withdrawal of the 102nd military base is not on the bilateral agenda. The Armenian side has clearly stated this at all levels. Russian military presence remains a vital pillar of Armenia’s security system and an essential factor for regional stability. At the same time, our servicemen pose no threat to anyone in the region,” the ambassador emphasized.
He recalled that the agreement on “Russia’s Military Presence in Armenia” was originally signed in Moscow on March 16, 1995, for 25 years, with automatic five-year extensions.
“Later, in 2010, our countries signed an additional protocol in Yerevan, extending the deployment of Russian Armed Forces units in Armenia until 2044, with the possibility of five-year extensions,” Kopirkin added.