YEREVAN, JULY 12, ARMENPRESS. The agreement on forming joint Air Defense System between Armenia and Russia is a combination of efforts, “Armenpress” reports, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said in an interview with the Arabic “Al Mayadeen” TV.

“First of all, I would like to say this is not a new topic, it exists in our reality for a long time. Initially we even had a common CIS Air Defense System. It is already 7 years we have S-300 systems, and these are the major tools of our Air Defense System. If new missile systems are deployed in Armenia as part of the CSTO Air Defense System, it will be only positive since these are defensive measures. But I would like to state that the “joint system” doesn’t mean the abolition of the national systems, in this particular case Chief of the Air Defense of the Armenian Armed Forces will be the commander of the Armenian Air Defense Forces and he will give commands. This is not an abolition of the national Air Defense Systems, a creation of a common system, rather, it is a combination of efforts”, Serzh Sargsyan said.

He said Armenia will implement its Air Defense with the support of its partners as they will do the same with Armenia’s support in case of necessity. “I am aware of these issues in detail since I have been the Defense Minister of Armenia for a long time and I am familiar with these issues”, the Armenian President concluded.