Pro-Western politician insists on Armenia`s withdrawal from  Joint  Regional Air Defense System with Russia

ArmInfo.  One of the most important points of the pro- Western Republic party's election program is the withdrawal from  the Joint Regional Air Defense System in the Caucasus region, which includes Armenia and Russia. Party leader Aram Sargsyan  made this announcement at a press conference on April 27, presenting the main points of the party's election program.

According to him, this air defense system demonstrated its  ineffectiveness during the 44-day war.  Specifically, one of  Azerbaijan's UAVs even flew across almost the entire territory of  Armenia, reaching Abovyan, and then calmly returned. The politician  noted that the first priority is to abandon not the CSTO, but the  Joint Regional Air Defense System. Sargsyan referred to the words of  Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who stated that Armenia's  air defense systems were disabled during that war.  He also  emphasized the need to abandon the CSTO, which should happen within  no more than two years. 

According to Sargsyan, this organization is closed and unjustified.  "The CSTO does not recognize Armenia's territory, stating that it  cannot intervene in the conflict with Azerbaijan due to the lack of  internationally recognized borders, the absence of a delimitation  process, etc. As a military structure, the organization has  completely failed," said the leader of the Republic party.  Sargsyan  added that Armenia must fully transition to a contract-based model  for its armed forces within the next five years, and that the issue  of intensively professionalizing the army is quite feasible. To  achieve this, the budget allocations for the Armed Forces will need  to reach $3 billion over the next three years, and $10 billion over  the next 10 years. At the same time, mandatory military service will  be reduced every six months. As a result, a fully professional army  will be formed within five years. The politician also emphasized the  need to unite the full potential of Armenian society to address  economic issues and elevate the country to a qualitatively new level.  He even threatened harsh measures against anyone who tries to resist  this goal. To this end, it is crucial to conduct an economic  inventory to determine what should be sold and what should remain  state property.

It should be noted that Armenia will hold its next parliamentary  elections on June 7. Nineteen political forces have registered for  participation: 17 parties, including the Republic Party, and two  blocs.