ArmInfo. Moscow requested clarification from Yerevan regarding Armenia's participation in NATO exercises. This was stated on April 12 during a weekly briefing by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, in response to a question regarding the participation of the Republic of Armenia in NATO exercises and non-participation in the CSTO exercises.
It should be noted that earlier the Armenian Defense Ministry spokesperson Aram Torosyan stated that the Armenian side plans to participate in two other exercises organized by the US army command in Europe - KFOR (Kosovo Force) and Saber Junction military exercises. He stated this after the Pentagon removed Armenia from its website from the list of countries participating in the US-led multinational military exercises Defender 2023.
"We requested official clarifications from the Armenian partners about their participation in NATO exercises. We will determine our reaction after receiving a response," she said. Of course, the diplomat continued, Yerevan's refusal to conduct CSTO maneuvers on its territory is regrettable and does not contribute to enhancing regional security. At the same time, she drew attention to the fact that NATO continues the practice of actively involving partner countries in its maneuvers. "And it does this through the introduction of NATO standards. And it seeks to reformat the defense complex of these states, to gain leverage on their internal and foreign policy processes, the course of building their Armed Forces. First of all, this concerns the post-Soviet space, which is a real field for NATO for geopolitical confrontations with the Russian Federation ", said the diplomat. Zakharova stressed that the United States and its allies are trying to discredit the cooperation of the countries of the region with Russia, drawing them into various formats of interaction that are clearly anti- Russian - Russophobic in nature. "Such NATO actions lead to the destabilization of the situation in various regions, the growth of conflict potential and the creation of new dividing lines," she stressed. Referring to the possible timing of the deployment of the CSTO mission in Armenia, the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry said: " This should be addressed to Yerevan, and not to us.."
At the same time, she cited the earlier statement made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on this issue that the Russian side is satisfied that Armenia remains interested in accepting the CSTO mission. "I can also add that as soon as Yerevan is ready, we will be able to return to substantive work to consolidate specific modalities, details of the deployment of the CSTO mission in Armenia," said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. Let us add that yesterday one of the representatives of the ruling "Civil Contract" faction of the Armenian Parliament said that Yerevan would not approve the deployment of the CSTO mission in the country until the Organization made a political assessment of the Azerbaijani aggression against the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia.