$100 million arms deal with Russia in process, Armenia’s defense minister says
Armenia’s Defense Ministry Davit Tonoyan gave today his strong assurances the process of supplying Russian weapons to Armenia under the $100 million defense loan agreement is currently underway.
“As I said earlier, the ammunition and armaments ordered by us are in the production stage,” he said.
Earlier, Russian media reports alleged Moscow May suspend the $100 million worth arms sales agreement with Armenia.
Speaking with reporters after today’s meeting with Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin, Tonoyan stressed Russia has not exerted any pressure regarding the agreement. “There is no pressure, only an atmosphere of cooperation that has not changed for decades,” the minister said.
He did not rule out that Armenia could apply for a new military loan from Russia, however adding no talks have been held on the matter yet.
According to the minister, Armenia also makes other arms purchases from all corners of the world, apart from the one under the defense loan.
He next commented on his meeting with the Russian official, saying “the negotiations were very successful, more than I could expect.”
Speaking about a possible substitute for Secretary General of Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization Yuri Khachaturov, charged over the 2008 post-election violence in Yerevan, the minister said the issue has not been discussed yet, meantime stressing Armenia should continue its chairmanship in the CSTO until the term expires.