No changes are expected in the functions of the Russian military base in Armenia, RF Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated in his interview with the Public Television of Armenia, commenting on amendments to the protocol on the Russian military base in Armenia.

According to him, there are no special reasons why the issue has become topical. The reason is that any states closely cooperating in the military sphere – like Russia and Armenia – have to plan their actions. “The main task of the protocol on deployment of the Russian military base in Armenia is having long-term prospects, long-term planning. As to the rest, all the functions the Russian base is performing now will remain unchanged,” Lavrov said.

On August 19, at the invitation of RA President Serzh Sargsyan, RF President Dmitry Medvedev is arriving for a state visit to Armenia.

A protocol on the prolongation of deployment of Russian military base #102 in Armenia is to be signed. Under the protocol, the military base will remain in Armenia for the next 49 years.

An informal summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is to be held in Armenia on August 20-22.