Russian Military Base Threat for the South Caucasus: Vashadze

Increasing the number of Russian military bases in the South Caucasus is a big threat to Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia sovereignty, said Georgia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Grigol Vashadze in an interview with APA news agency. 

Commenting on the extension of the term of deployment of the Russian military base in Gyumri, Vashadze said reinforcement of the military base poses a great threat to Armenia’s independence.

“This military base does not promise security, stability or cooperation to anyone. Moreover, this military base does not pave the way for the civil and diplomatic solution to the conflicts in the South Caucasus. The only aim of the Russian military base is to increase tension in the region. The extension of the term of deployment of this military base in Armenia for 24 years and change of its function poses serious threat to the region,” he said.