Zakharova: Moscow requested clarification from Yerevan regarding  Armenia`s participation in NATO exercises

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.