YEREVAN. - April 12, by 80 to one, with one abstention, the Armenian Parliament ratified the protocol prolonging Russian military presence in Armenia.

In presenting the document to Parliament earlier, Armenian Deputy Minister of Defense Ara Nazaryan stated that Russia is to contribute to Armenia`s national security, which specifies the legal norm saying that Russia defends the borders of Soviet Armenia. Under the document, Russia is to supply modern military equipment to Armenia. The document highlights the prolongation of the Russian military base`s presence in Armenia from 25 up to 49 years.

Last August, Russia and Armenia signed an agreement prolonging the presence of the Russian military base stationed in Gyumri, Armenia, until 2044.

On March 15, 2010, the Constitutional Court of Armenia confirmed the constitutionality of the document. Thereafter, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan submitted the document to Parliament for ratification.

Russian military base #102 stationed in Gyumri is operating as part of the CIS integrated air defense system.