Armenia has suspended its participation in the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) because the pact had failed the country, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview broadcast on February 22.
Russia’s state-run news agency TASS says Pashinyan noted that the collective security agreement was not implemented in relation to Armenia, especially in 2021-2022,
Armenia has suspended its participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Prime Minister of the Republic Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview with France 24, according to TASS.
"The collective security agreement, in our opinion, was not implemented in relation to Armenia, especially in 2021-2022. This could not remain without our attention. We suspended our participation in this agreement. Let’s see what happens next," he said.
"We have now in practical terms frozen our participation in this treaty. As for what comes next, we shall have to see."
Answering a question about the possible closure of the Russian military base in Armenia, the prime minister said that said there was no discussion for the moment of closing the Russian base. That was subject to different treaties.
Pashinyan also said Azerbaijan, with which Armenia has fought two wars over the past three decades, was not adhering to the principles needed to clinch a long-term peace treaty, and suggested Azerbaijan was preparing to launch another attack.
It is to ben noted that Pashinyan has in recent months expressed discontent with Armenia's longstanding ties with Russia and said Armenia could no longer rely on Russia to ensure its defense needs. He had suggested its membership of the CSTO was under review.
Other members of the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization include Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
