Armenia, Russia building common army

"Armenia and Russia have agreed to establish a joint military unit on the territory of Armenia", Azerbaijan's "Azadlig" newspaper has quoted Armenian chief-of-staff General Arutunian as saying in an interview with Russian "Red Star" newspaper.

The Armenian officer says further that a meeting of the CIS Collective Security Council was held in Yerevan on April 26-27 and attended by the Secretary of Russia's Security Council A. Rushailo and other high-ranking dignitaries from Moscow.

According to "Media-Max" news agency, Gen. Arutunian said Russia's 102nd military unit and Armenia's Air Defense Force would be defending not only themselves but also the entire territory of Armenia.

The general went on to say that Armenia's key army units, "considering the current situation", have been stationed in the vicinity of the border with Nakhchivan and along the western border )with Azerbaijan.

"If necessary, we can concentrate our troops, together with Russia's 102nd unit, on the western border", he said and added that in case of a military threat in the region, the Russo-Armenian units would be further strengthened "with Russia's space aviation components".

The general pledged that bilateral military and technical cooperation would further enhance.