Russia, Armenia Agree on Integrated Regional Air Defense System for Collective Security

Russia and Armenia have agreed on composition of forces and assets in the United Regional Air Defense System in the Caucasus region for collective security.

"The list of troops allocated by Russia and Armenia to the United Regional Air Defense System in the Caucasus region of collective security has been signed," the chief of the main staff - First Deputy Commander of the Air and Space Forces (RF) of the Russian Federation Lieutenant-General Pavel Kurachenko was quoted as saying by Ria Novosti Tuesday.

The document was signed by the chiefs of the general staffs of the armed forces of the Russian Federation and Armenia. The list was sent for approval to the head of the RF Ministry of Defense Sergey Shoigu and the Minister of Defense of Armenia Vigen Sargsyan. A similar list of troops and forces has already been agreed and approved with Kazakhstan.

"Coordination of documents on the establishment of joint regional air defense systems of Russia and Kyrgyzstan, as well as Russia and Tajikistan is continuing," Kurachenko added.

In addition, Major-General Igor Golub, commander of the Air Force and air defense forces of Belarus, was appointed commander of the unified regional air defense system of the Russian Federation and Belarus, and Nurlan Karbenov, commander-in-chief of the Kazakh Air Defense Force, is scheduled to be appointed commander of the unified regional air defense system of the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan.

The united air defense system of the CIS member states is created on the basis of the agreement of ten countries of the commonwealth, signed on February 10, 1995 in Alma-Ata. At present, Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are part of the united air defense system of the CIS member states.