The Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia Arshak Karapetyan, who is in the Russian Federation on a working visit, had a private talk today with the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, General of the Army Sergei Shoigu, which was followed by an extended meeting with the delegations.

The RA Ministry of Defense reported.

During the meeting the parties discussed a wide range of issues related to the Armenian-Russian allied relations, exchanged views on regional and international security issues.

Congratulating the RA Minister of Defense on assuming the post, Army General Sergei Shoigu praised the work being done recently by the Ministries of Defense of the two countries to develop bilateral cooperation and solve the existing problems in the region.

The Russian Defense Minister stressed that the Russian Federation will continue to make every effort to strengthen peace in Nagorno Karabakh and resolve the situation in the border regions of Armenia peacefully.

Taking the opportunity, the Russian Defense Minister thanked that despite the existing problems, Armenia continues to participate in the humanitarian mission in the Syrian Republic.

Thanking his counterpart for the warm reception, the RA Minister of Defense, at the latter’s request, presented the operative situation around the borders of the Republic of Armenia, emphasizing the mediation efforts of the Russian Federation in the peaceful settlement of the situation. Arshak Karapetyan stressed that the Republic of Armenia continues to be committed to the establishment of lasting peace in the region, to the continuation of negotiations in that direction, at the same time, will not tolerate the occupation of its border regions, will take all necessary steps to restore territorial integrity.

Taking the opportunity, the RA Minister of Defense thanked for the peacekeeping mission in Nagorno Karabakh, noting that with the efforts of the Russian peacekeepers the peaceful life in Nagorno Karabakh has been restored, the uninterrupted connection with the Republic of Armenia is ensured. The Minister of Defense stressed the inadmissibility of provocations carried out by Azerbaijan from time to time in the area of ​​responsibility of peacekeepers, violations of the ceasefire regime, citing the use of a strike drone registered today as an example.

Arshak Karapetyan also referred to the intensive reforms being carried out in the field of defense and thanked his colleague for the comprehensive support provided in this direction. The Minister emphasized that today the Armenian-Russian military-political relations are at the stage of moving to an unprecedented high level.

The defense ministers of the two countries have reached a number of important agreements on the forthcoming cooperation programs.