news.az, Azerbaijan July 30 2010 Russian base to receive mandate to protect Armenia Fri 30 July 2010 | 12:51 GMT Text size: Russia and Armenia will sign a protocol to introduce changes to the contract on the Russian military base in Armenia. The regulation of the government about presentation of the proposal to Russian president on signing this protocol has been placed in the database of the standard acts of the Cabinet of Ministers. The draft protocol will introduce changes according to which `the Russian military base in Armenia ensures the security of this country along with the armed forces of Armenia in addition to fulfilling functions on protection of Russian interests'. To attain the aforementioned goals, Russia `assists in provision of Armenia with modern and compatible arms, military (special) technique', according to the draft protocol, Interfax reports. Under the document, `the deployment of armed formations of the Russian military base is held on the basis of mutual agreements of the parties, Collective Security Treaty of 15 May 1992, Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between Russia and Armenia of 28 August 1997 and compliance with the legislation of the parties'. In addition, the draft protocol offers to write article 26 of the contract as follows: `the contract is valid within 49 years and automatically prolonged for the next five years if none of the sides notifies the opposite party about the intention to cease it in at least six months before the expiration of the next term in written'. News.am