Tweet
Global Insight
January 16, 2013
Armenia's new defence pact with Russia to include weapons manufacturing
by Lilit Gevorgyan
Armenian and Russian defence companies are to co-operate in defence
manufacturing, according to a report by the Russian state-owned news
agency RIA Novosti. This is part of a new defence agreement to be
signed between the two countries. According to Armenia's National
Security Council secretary, Artur Baghdasaryan, the first draft of the
defence deal was endorsed by the Armenian government in November 2012.
Baghdasaryan did not reveal many details, but he confirmed that deeper
co-operation will be established between Armenian and Russian defence
manufacturers. Armenian officials also said that there will be a
reciprocal supply of defence equipment, assembly parts, and other
materials required for production and modernisation of arms. One of
the provisions of the new deal precludes the parties from re-exporting
or transferring jointly manufactured arms to third-party countries
without the supplier's permission. According to Armenian media
reports, the Russian president Vladimir Putin is due to visit Armenia
early this year.
Significance: Russia already has a large stake in, and in some cases
full ownership of, a number of defence companies in Armenia. These are
mostly involved in research and development and were established
during the Soviet era. Armenia has a strategic partnership with
Russia, and its government plays an important role as a security
guarantor for the South Caucasian republic. As part of the defence
co-operation, Russia maintains a military base in Gyumri, northwest
Armenia. Under a bilateral security pact signed in 2010, the Russian
military extended the lease until 2044. Signing a new security pact
will boost Armenian defence manufacturing capabilities that are
critical for the country regarding the increasing prospects of
potential new military conflict with neighbouring Azerbaijan over the
final status of mainly ethnic Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh region, which
unilaterally declared independence from Azerbaijan in 1991.
January 16, 2013
Armenia's new defence pact with Russia to include weapons manufacturing
by Lilit Gevorgyan
Armenian and Russian defence companies are to co-operate in defence
manufacturing, according to a report by the Russian state-owned news
agency RIA Novosti. This is part of a new defence agreement to be
signed between the two countries. According to Armenia's National
Security Council secretary, Artur Baghdasaryan, the first draft of the
defence deal was endorsed by the Armenian government in November 2012.
Baghdasaryan did not reveal many details, but he confirmed that deeper
co-operation will be established between Armenian and Russian defence
manufacturers. Armenian officials also said that there will be a
reciprocal supply of defence equipment, assembly parts, and other
materials required for production and modernisation of arms. One of
the provisions of the new deal precludes the parties from re-exporting
or transferring jointly manufactured arms to third-party countries
without the supplier's permission. According to Armenian media
reports, the Russian president Vladimir Putin is due to visit Armenia
early this year.
Significance: Russia already has a large stake in, and in some cases
full ownership of, a number of defence companies in Armenia. These are
mostly involved in research and development and were established
during the Soviet era. Armenia has a strategic partnership with
Russia, and its government plays an important role as a security
guarantor for the South Caucasian republic. As part of the defence
co-operation, Russia maintains a military base in Gyumri, northwest
Armenia. Under a bilateral security pact signed in 2010, the Russian
military extended the lease until 2044. Signing a new security pact
will boost Armenian defence manufacturing capabilities that are
critical for the country regarding the increasing prospects of
potential new military conflict with neighbouring Azerbaijan over the
final status of mainly ethnic Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh region, which
unilaterally declared independence from Azerbaijan in 1991.