YEREVAN. April 14 (Interfax) - Armenia and Russia are discussing possibly opening a stronghold of Russia's 102nd military base in the Syunik region in southern Armenia on the border with Azerbaijan and Iran.
"We're discussing the possibility of broadening the capacities of Russia's 102nd military base in Armenia [stationed in Gyumri, northern Armenia]. We're also discussing the opening of a Russian military base stronghold in the Syunik region," Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in parliament on Wednesday.
Such discussions with Russia "have been quite effective," Pashinyan said.
The Armenian-Russian military union is the foundation of Armenia's external security, he said.
"This union rests upon dozens of agreements and mutual obligations. The Armenian-Russian group of forces and the joint air defense network of the Collective Security Treaty Organization in the Caucasus are essential to the provision of Armenian security. In the context of these two networks, an attack on Armenia means an attack on Russia, and both countries must counter external challenges together," Pashinyan said.
He also announced the beginning of extensive army reforms, which will be both structural and substantive.
"We expect to ensure Armenia's transition to a professional army and to alter the essence of conscription and contractual service in the strategic prospective," Pashinyan said.