Serzh Sargsyan: CSTO is not a counterbalance to NATO

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan considers that CSTO is not a counterbalance to NATO, he stated in an interview to Arab TV channel "Al Mayadeen".

According to him CSTO is a military-political alliance, the goal of which is to ensure security of the member states. At the same time he stated that being the founding member Armenia has always noted CSTO's wish to cooperate with NATO. "We have not reached any tangible success in this issue yet possibly because NATO is considered a more organized and acceptable structure. However we do not consider our interests in the context of contradictions. We want very much that interests of the USA and Russia coincide, and they have no conflicts as this would lead to good times for us", he stated. The president considers that search for interests, based on contradictions, is a dangerous process. In this context he stressed that being a member of CSTO Armenia cooperates with NATO. "This testifies that NATO and CSTO have not been established to confront with each other", the head of the state emphasized.

Sargsyan also touched upon establishment of integrated regional system of air defense in Caucasus region.  Particularly he emphasized that creating an integrated system does not mean liquidation of national system of air defense, "Chief of Air Defense of Armenia's Armed Forces will head the Armenian system of Air defense and will give the commands. Thus, this will be a combination of efforts and not liquidation of one system for creating the other", the president noted adding that the Armenian side will ensure its air defense with the support of its counterparts and will support them in its turn.