Russia, Armenia Sign Agreement to Create Joint Regional Air Defense System

Russian Defense Minister Soygu meeting with Armenian Defense Minister Ohanyan (Source: Massis Post)

MOSCOW (Combined Forces)”” The Russian and Armenian defense ministers on Wednesday signed an agreement on creating a joint regional air defense system in the Caucasus.

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu and his Armenian counterpart Seyran Ohanyan signed the agreement after talks held in Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized his government to sign the deal in October.

The two defense ministries also signed a cooperation plan for 2016.

Mutual cooperation plans for 2016 also were signed with other defense ministers, with whom Sergey Shoygu met in bilateral meetings ”“ Kyrgyz General Staff Chief Colonel Zhanybek Kaparov, Tajik Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Sherali Mirzo, Azerbaijani Defense Minister Col. Gen. Zakir Gasanov and Kazakh Defense Minister Imangali Tasmagambetov. The meeting of the Russian and Azeri defense ministers was held under the closed doors.

“We have approved for 2016 a plan of work of the Defense Ministers’ Council of the CIS countries and a plan of common steps on the joint air defense system,”