Armenia considers itself outside the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), and a return to the organization is now impossible, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declared during a "Government Hour" in Parliament on December 4, Interfax reports.
"As for the documents (adopted at the CSTO summit in Kazakhstan), we have stated that we are freezing our participation in the work of the CSTO, meaning we are not involved in the development of documents, discussions, or making proposals. We simply do not veto," Pashinyan said.
"In essence, we already consider ourselves outside the CSTO. Let them decide what they want. We are not interfering in their affairs and are not claiming that we have a de jure right to veto here. And this is with all due respect to our colleagues. […] I believe that we have crossed the point of no return on this issue," he added.
At the CSTO summit at the end of November, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that “Armenia stated that it is taking a pause and has not announced its withdrawal from the organization, and it supports all the documents adopted within the organization.”
“If that’s the case, then there is a possibility that Armenia will return to full participation in the CSTO. Well, let’s see,” Putin said.
During the "Government Hour," Pashinyan also said that Putin’s statements “make the overall situation in the CSTO obvious.”
“Our position is clear: in 2021 and 2022, Armenia faced territorial claims and aggression. We saw that the situation was developing in this direction. And this issue was primarily discussed with our allies, with the response that such a thing cannot happen because Armenia's borders are a 'red line' for us. We told our allies that this 'red line' was crossed, and they responded that the borders, it seems, are not delimited,” Pashinyan said, noting that the CSTO allies refused to intervene in the conflict at the time.
“I then said that if the CSTO does not have a zone of responsibility in Armenia, then such an organization, in fact, does not exist,” Pashinyan recalled.
When asked by a parliamentarian why Armenia has not officially withdrawn from the CSTO, the Prime Minister responded: “There is no delay. There is our understanding of the speed and pace. You can see that we are moving very clearly and consistently in a specific direction.”
Pashinyan has repeatedly criticized the CSTO for failing to provide assistance during the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. Previously, he announced the suspension of Armenia's participation in the organization, including halting its funding and participation in military exercises held under the CSTO framework.
The CSTO includes six former Soviet states: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. The main goal of the organization is the defense of member states from external armed aggression.
