Ivanov to talk military cooperation in Azerbaijan, Armenia

MOSCOW, January 23 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov has left for an official visit to Azerbaijan and Armenia, to inspect Russian troops stationed in the two countries and to meet their presidents and defense ministers for talks on military cooperation, the ministry said Monday.

Ivanov is to visit Azerbaijan's Gabali radar station, which Russia is leasing from the former Soviet republic. In Armenia he is to visit Russia's 102nd military base.

"Ivanov is expected to meet with the commanders, watch drills, and inspect the infrastructure," the ministry said.

The minister will also meet with the presidents and defense ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia, with talks set to focus on military and technological cooperation.

The Russian base is part of a joint air defense system of the Commonwealth of Independent States, which was deployed in Armenia in 1995.

In December 2005, Russia and Armenia signed a set of bilateral documents on expanding the base. Armenia is to transfer plots of land and real estate to the base under the agreements.

The base comes under the authority of the Russian group of forces in the South Caucasus, is equipped with S-300 air defense systems and MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters, and has personnel numbering 5,000.