December 2, 2005 - 14:02 AMT
Baluyesky: Armenia in Certain Way Russia's Major Ally in Region
The regular sitting of the CIS Defense Ministers will be held in Azerbaijan, Chief of the Russian General Staff, Army General Yuri Baluyevsky told journalists. When asked about Armenia's "over-armament" the General said, "If we compare the armament that was left in Armenia and Azerbaijan after the USSR collapse we will get similar figures, thus it is senseless to speak of Armenia's over-armament."

Yuri Baluyevski reminded that Armenia is a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. "In a certain way this republic is Russia's major ally in the region," he noted. To remind, the sitting of the CIS Defense Ministers was held in Moscow yesterday. MOD heads from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine and Russia participated in the sitting. Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan were represented by Deputy Defense Ministers. Georgia, Moldova and Turkmenistan has not directed representatives to Moscow, reported ITAR-TASS.