The vice Premier, the Russias Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov flew off to Azerbaijan on an official visit, where he will check the state and the level of the Russian military contingent combat training. From Azerbaijan the vice Premier will leave for Armenia, the Russias Defense Ministry told RIA Novosti.
"They are scheduled visits of the Minister to Armenia and Azerbaijan, the news agencys spokesman said. According to him, the vice Premier is going to attend the Gabala radar station in Azerbaijan, leased by Russia and in Armenia the 102-nd Russias military base, Trend reports.
"Meetings with the Russian militaries will be held. The Minister will see, how the combat training is conducted, in what state the bases infrastructure is, how operate the objects and stations. Problematic issues will be also discussed, the spokesman said.
He also added, the Russias Defense Ministry finds operation of the Russian military contingents on the areas of the both countries satisfactory.
Meetings with presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, the both states Premiers as well as negotiations at the Defense Ministries level are scheduled during the visits. Among other issues there will be a military and technical cooperation.
After signing a number of bilateral agreements between Russia and Armenia in December 2005 enlargement of the Russian military base in this country was announced. Under the documents, Armenia will hand over some land plots and the immovable property to the 102-nd military base. The base is subordinated to the Russias Military Troops in Caucasus. The base is equipped by the anti-aircraft missile complex C-300 and MIG-29 fighters. The personnels number is about 5,000 people.
The Inter-governmental agreement on the status, principles and conditions of the Gabala RLSs use was signed between Russia and Azerbaijan in January 2002. Azerbaijan leased the station for 10 years to Russia. The rent for the object use is $7 million a year.