Armenia ratifies agreement on joint air-defense system with Russia

Armenia's parliament on Thursday voted to ratify an Armenian-Russian agreement to create a joint air-defense system which opponents fear gives too much control to Moscow. Armenian officials say the new system will enable the inclusion of the Russian Air Force's full range of capabilities, including multifunction fighter jets, into joint regional air defense. "It will allow us to have serious reconnaissance data, which will be in the common informational field and will prevent all violations by adversaries," Armenian Defence Minister Seyran Ohanyan said on Wednesday.