Wednesday, January 11 2023 20:33

ArmInfo. As of today Armenia has no alternative in conducting exercises within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. Head of the "Armenia"  parliamentary faction, former RA Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan told  journalists on January 11.

He noted that the exercises are conducted not in order to avoid  threats, but, on the contrary, in order to counter them. For Armenia,  the Turkish-Azerbaijani tandem continues to be the only threat to its  security.  And if the CSTO and Russia are factors for countering  threats from Turkey, then military exercises are an opportunity to  increase the combat capability of the Armenian army to counter  threats from Azerbaijan, and within the framework of the CSTO, also  an opportunity for the exchange of experience aimed at increasing the  level of readiness of the command of the Armed Forces, headquarters  and troops.

Ohanyan wondered if Armenia left the CSTO. <Of course not. Such  measures, especially in the current conditions, should be used to  increase the combat readiness and skills of the country's armed  forces.  Meanwhile, the Prime Minister's statements that the CSTO  military exercises could lead to an increase in tension in the region  indicate that the current Armenian authorities have agreements with  the Turks and Azerbaijanis both against building up the capabilities  and skills of the Armenian army, and against the alliance, within the  framework of which work is constantly being done on the army," the  oppositionist said.

He pointed to the clearly aggressive behavior of Azerbaijan.  According to Ohanyan, this is evidenced by the steps taken by the  leadership of Azerbaijan aimed at minimizing the possibilities for  the formation of the Armenian Armed Forces. "Even  yesterday, the  President of Azerbaijan directly stated his dissatisfaction with  Yerevan's intentions to acquire armaments, including from India," the  former minister of defense emphasized, adding that the RA  authorities, instead of quickly starting the process of restoring the  Armed Forces, refuse to conduct teachings.

It should be noted that yesterday, during a press conference, Prime  Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan stated that Yerevan "does not  consider it expedient to conduct CSTO exercises in the republic in  2023 under these conditions." According to the prime minister, in  order to conduct CSTO exercises in Armenia ", it is necessary to  assess the area of responsibility of the Organization. CSTO may leave  the country after conducting exercises in Armenia, while before  conducting exercises, it is necessary to determine the area of  responsibility of the Organization, so that it is possible to build  deep institutional relations with this organization. "If the CSTO  does not mention its zonal responsibility, it turns into a  fundamental problem for Yerevan, especially since the organization  does not fix its "red line", which cannot be crossed. For example, if  it does not pass through the territory of  Sotk-Khoznavar, Jermuk,  then where does it pass?  And when we will find out, then we will  invite the CSTO to conduct exercises>, the head of the Armenian  government said.