Armenia Ratifies New Agreement, but with Reservations: Deputy Minister of Defense on Joining the CIS Armed Forces Communication System

During today’s session of the National Assembly, the ratification of the agreement on a "Joint Communication System of the Armed Forces of the Participants of the Commonwealth of Independent States" signed on May 29, 2020, is being discussed.

Deputy Minister of Defense Arman Sargsyan, while presenting the draft agreement, noted that the communication forces and means of the CIS member states will enter the joint communication system, with their interaction governed by an agreed-upon plan.

The Deputy Minister also announced that Armenia is ratifying the agreement with reservations. "The Republic of Armenia will make an individual decision regarding the application of individual provisions of the agreement concerning those countries that joined the agreement after May 29, 2020," Sargsyan said, adding that, as of now, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, and Moldova have not signed the agreement.

According to him, the agreement also entails modernization of communication systems, supplemented with modern means. The Deputy Minister clarified that the agreement pertains to secured telephone communication and video conferencing (IP communication), which is already operational within the Ministry of Defense of Armenia. "This ensures greater security, better technical equipment, and also enhances cooperation between the Armed Forces of Armenia and Russia," Sargsyan stated.

It is worth noting that, according to the agreement, Armenia has the right to withdraw from the joint communication system by notifying its partners six months in advance. However, certain financial penalties are stipulated in this case.