国际英语新闻：Russian FM defends military base stay in Armenia

MOSCOW, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The protocol extending the Russian military base in Armenia will not change the balance of forces in the region, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Saturday.

He said the function of the Russian military base in Gyumri, Armenia's second largest city, remain unchanged under the new protocol of prolongation signed by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during his recent visit to Yerevan.

The protocol extending the operation of the base from 25 to 49 years "changes neither the base's functions, nor its personnel strength, nor the quantity of weapons it has," Lavrov said, as quoted by Interfax news agency.

"So it is wrong to say it might change the balance of forces in the region, and it is also wrong to say that it violates any agreements," he said.

Lavrov said the base's major goal is securing Russia's interests, including maintaining stability in the North Caucasus and the Caspian Sea region.

A week ago Russia and Armenia signed amendments to a 1995 bilateral treaty, extending the military base stay in Armenia through 2044.