A view from Moscow: Attempted involvement of Azerbaijan in CSTO will  face powerful opposition of Armenia

ArmInfo.Talk about the possible membership of Azerbaijan in the CSTO or granting Baku observer status in the Organization is intensifying significantly. First of all, due  to the fact that today there is an opportunity for such a status. A  similar opinion was expressed by ArmInfo, head of the Eurasian  integration and development of the SCO Institute of the CIS  countries, military expert Vladimir Evseev.

<At the same time, specifically on the issue of Azerbaijan, such  conversations have not yet been conducted.  In particular, in his  recent statement on CSTO, the Russian Foreign Minister did not  mention Azerbaijan due to the lack of an appropriate application from  Baku. The same observer status should be approved by all  participating countries, including Armenia. Accordingly, if it  doesn't exist, this status will remain unavailable for Baku, although  the rest of the CSTO countries would welcome it, "he said.

Recall that at a previous meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers  of the CSTO countries, Russian Minister Sergei Lavrov announced the  possible receipt of the SCO and the CIS as CSTO partners.  Commenting  on this statement, the expert described it as made in order to expand  both the zone of influence of the CSTO and, in fact, the  Organization. According to Evseev, such statements indicate certain  discussions and the existence of processes based on the application  of the Organization.

"In any case, Armenia has every opportunity to express its own  approaches, both in relation to the observing prospects of  Azerbaijan, and in relation to the prospects of the CIS and the SCO.  Given the common interest of the participating countries in  developing opportunities, strengthening and expanding the CSTO, its  cooperation with the SCO and the CIS will make it possible for the  organization to be more effective, "the military expert emphasized.

Evseev noted the existence of a real tool to prevent the involvement  of Azerbaijan in one form or another in the activities of the CSTO.  Moreover, regardless of the presence of certain hidden negotiations  or agreements on this issue. The expert suggests that due to the  expected long-term and insurmountable contradictions as a result of  the involvement of Baku in one form or another in the CSTO, countries  interested in preventing such a prospect will suspend this process.

According to Yevseyev's estimates, this topic in any case provides a  number of players with space for political maneuvering and,  accordingly, an opportunity for negotiations. According to his  forecasts, this opportunity will soon be played in various political  combinations, including from Baku. In this case, in any case, an  attempt to involve Azerbaijan in the CSTO will meet with powerful  opposition from Armenia.