ArmInfo. Baku does not consider participating in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)as an observer, said Hikmet Hajiyev, department for foreign policy of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan.
"Azerbaijan does not currently consider participating in the CSTO in any form, including as an observer," Hajiyev said in an interview with RealTV, quoted Interfax-Azerbaijan. "It has become such a phobia in Armenia that in Yerevan they bring this issue up for discussion in the absence of any official appeal from Azerbaijan," he added.
Hajiyev pointed out that Azerbaijan has close friendly and partner relations with all CSTO member countries, including in the military and military-technical sphere, with the exception of Armenia. He also emphasized that, despite the fact that Baku does not consider the issue of participation in the Organization, Azerbaijan is closely monitoring the activities of the CSTO and the issues discussed by the Organization.
Earlier, in the Armenian parliament, a bill was considered regarding amendments to the CSTO charter, regarding the granting of observer or partner status, and during the discussions, concerns were expressed about the possible granting of such status to a state unfriendly Armenia, namely Azerbaijan. In this regard, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan emphasized that all decisions in the Organization are made by consensus and without the consent of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan will not be able to obtain any status in the military alliance.