ArmInfo.The Armenian government is not changing their foreign policy vector; Yerevan has no decision to withdraw from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Alen Simonyan told reporters on February 29.
"The issue we are discussing is not about changing any vector or anything like that. We are discussing what to do to reduce the dangers that may threaten Armenia. There is no decision to leave the CSTO, but we do not rule it out. Our society also talks about it, one might say, it makes such a demand," Simonyan said.
He noted that he does not know what the situation should be in order to directly raise the question of the advisability of continuing membership in the CSTO. "There must be an attack on our country? Sanctions have been applied, what else should happen? According to our assessment, our ally did not help us in any way in more than 10 episodes during military operations by Azerbaijan. They do not directly say that they will not help, but in reality they will not help, each time finding reasons, they say, we'll look, evaluate, understand," the NA Speaker emphasized, adding at the same time that Armenia's resources are not limitless to expect real steps from the allies, be it within the CSTO or direct application bilateral agreement. The speaker noted that excuses are often heard from allies, saying that you didn't do something, and that's why we don't react. "And where, in this case, are their interests and allied obligations? In the end, you cannot constantly throw off these obligations," Simonyan said.
He also noted that the current security system does not work in the case of Armenia, which causes more than serious concerns for official Yerevan. "You all saw what happened with Artsakh, Hin Tagher, Khtsaberd, Sev Lich, Jermuk, with Armenian prisoners. Meanwhile, our political and human resources are not limitless. What else needs to happen?" the speaker again asked the question, that the alternative to all this should be the use by the Armenian side of all available instruments, including through the CSTO. Simonyan emphasized that Yerevan is currently trying to acquire weapons from all possible places to protect the state. "And if these steps interfere with any system security, this is their problem. It is obvious that the allies are not fulfilling their obligations. We have not had any discussions regarding the possibility of NATO participation in maintaining the security of the Armenian state, just as there have been no such discussions regarding the EU. However, we will move in the direction those forces that will help us ensure the security of the Armenian state to the maximum extent," said the Speakerof the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia.