CSTO is not doing actions that it ought to do, and is showing its  absence in Armenia - Simonyan

ArmInfo.There are mediation proposals from various countries in the issue of normalization of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Alen Simonyan told journalists on March 20.

He noted that proposals are received through various channels,  including diplomatic ones. There are issues, the speaker continued,  on which the authorities of Artsakh are directly involved in the  negotiations, especially on issues related to Nagorno-Karabakh. The  exchange of proposals is carried out through various channels, and,  first of all, through the Russian side, which is the main player. But  there are also proposals from the United States, which are quite  active in this matter, as well as from France.

Answering the question about the accumulation of Azerbaijani troops  on the borders with Armenia, including in the direction of Jermuk,  the Speaker stressed that predicting the development of events is a  rather thankless task. . <I want to emphasize once again: there is  always a danger of an escalation of violence, especially if you put  together the words and actions of the Azerbaijani authorities, the  expert community and the media of a neighboring country. The  possibility of resuming active hostilities continues to be at a very  high level. But whether there will be an escalation or not, no one  can say about it. We are in constant readiness for such  developments," the head of the Armenian parliament said.

Answering the question about how relations with the CSTO are seen  against the background of a possible escalation at the borders, the  speaker stressed that the expression "CSTO is leaving Armenia" is not  accidental, its means that  the Organization is not doing the actions  that it ought to do, and is showing its absence in Armenia. The visit  of the CSTO Secretary General to Armenia and his visits to the border  regions do not mean that the Organization is not leaving the  republic. What has changed as a result of this visit? Armenia,  regardless of the development of the situation, is taking the  necessary steps, taking all possible steps to find ways to ensure the  security of the state. These visits cannot influence the  developments, especially since we have experience when hostilities  took place after visits at a higher level>, the head of the Armenian  parliament noted.

Commenting on the statement of the former NATO Secretary General that  if Armenia wants closer relations with the West in the field of  security, then the country's membership in the CSTO is an obstacle  for this, Simonyan noted that this statement is the personal opinion  of the NATO former Secretary General.  "Respecting this opinion, I  remain committed to the fact that no matter what security system  Armenia is in, we are constantly looking for all the opportunities to  ensure the security of the state," the RA NA President stressed.