Moscow. August 11. INTERFAX-Russia is ready to continue helping Armenia to modernize and reform its Armed Forces, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
"We attach great importance to the development of our cooperation in the military field both in the bilateral format and within the framework of the CSTO. At the same time, we are ready to continue to assist in the implementation of the program for the reform of the Armenian Armed Forces. The task is not easy, but I think that with your experience it will be on the shoulder, " Shoigu said at a meeting in Moscow with Armenian Defense Minister Arshak Karapetyan.
Shoigu congratulated Karapetyan on his appointment, noting that it took place "at a difficult time, when there are difficult tasks of reforming the country's defense sector."
In turn, Karapetyan expressed gratitude to Shoigu for his readiness to help restore the combat capability of the Armenian Armed Forces, equip and train troops.
In recent days, Azerbaijan and Armenia have exchanged accusations of shelling their military positions in the border areas.
The 102nd Russian military base is located in Armenia.
There is a Russian peacekeeping contingent operating in Nagorno-Karabakh. It was introduced after the hostilities between the Armenian and Azerbaijani forces were stopped in Karabakh on November 10, 2020. The Russian contingent has 1960 military personnel. It is based on the units of the 15th separate motorized Rifle Brigade of the Central Military District.
