August 23, 2010 - 17:58 AMT
Vladimir Zharikhin: prolongation of term of Russian military base’s deployment in Armenia is of great importance for both Moscow and Yerevan

Deputy Director of the Institute of CIS Countries Vladimir Zharikhin said that prolongation of the term of Russian military base’s deployment in Armenia is of great importance for both Moscow and Yerevan. These changes are significant for strengthening peace in the region, Zharikhin told Yerevan-Moscow TV space bridge.

Such widening of the status will lead to the fact that negotiations and solution of problems at the South Caucasus proceed only in peaceful direction, he noted.

“In my opinion, in the military and strategic respect Russia and Armenia should actively participate in the decision, which was adopted during the CSTO informal summit in Yerevan. In other words, on one hand, the countries should facilitate the possibility of assistance to the organization member countries in situations similar to the one that recently happened in the southern part of Kyrgyzstan. On the other hand, the parties should avoid a possible interference in internal affairs of the CSTO member countries,” said Zharikhin.

He added that heads of the organization member countries decided to discuss this issue, as they understand that the current charter of the CSTO is not enough flexible to assist colleagues in such situations.