Armenia`s final decision being expected - Russian FM

ArmInfo. The statement that the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) left Yerevan in the  lurch in the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan is untrue, Russian FM Sergey Lavrov told a press conference following the Antalya Diplomacy Forum. 

"When the CSTO, in response to a request from Yerevan, sent its  mission of experts to study on the spot, it returned and proposed  deploying an observer mission on Armenian territory on the border  with Azerbaijan," Lavrov recalled.

In this vein, he added that at the CSTO summit in Yerevan in the fall  of 2022, the text of the mandate of CSTO observers on Armenian soil  was textually agreed upon.

"It was agreed upon. In the morning it was presented to the heads of  state, but Mr Pashinyan said that the document did not suit Yerevan,  since the CSTO did not sharply condemn the actions of Azerbaijan.  At  the same time, at the same time, the EU offered to place its  observers in Armenia, and Mr Pashinyan immediately agreed. Although  the EU has never condemned Azerbaijan. And when we asked why there  was such a different attitude, we were told: "Well, you are allies,  you are obliged to condemn, but they are not allies, they are not  obliged. That's how I feel about the events," Lavrov said. 

According to Lavrov, the Armenian leadership decided to rely on  extra-regional countries that are courting Yerevan and promising to  help in all troubles, if only Armenia would break all relations with  Russia and those integration structures created in the common region.

"The West does not hide this - this is the main task in relations  with the countries of Central Asia, and with Armenia and any other  countries of the post-Soviet space. Our allies and friends understand  this very well and are faithful to their obligations. If the Armenian  leadership decided to make different decisions, we are not "We can  prohibit making any statements regarding our future relations, but  ultimately everyone must rely on the opinion of their peoples. If  this is the opinion of the Armenian people, then let this be the new  policy of the Yerevan authorities," Lavrov added, expressing the  conviction that you need to have the political courage to say that  everything that has happened so far in Russian-Armenian relations is  a mistake. At the same time, he added that if this is the opinion of  the entire leadership of Armenia, based on the opinion of the  Armenian people, then there is a need to reconsider the entire  complex of Russian-Armenian relations.

"So we are all waiting for them to officially confirm to us what  Armenia's final decision will be. And then they tell us: "But here we  will de facto freeze in the CSTO. And if we want, we'll freeze it de  jure. Well, Evrazes is still interesting to us because we get  something from it." It's not a very attractive picture.  Therefore,  we would really like our Armenian colleagues, our Armenian partners  to decide for themselves how they want to live further and how they  want carry out on a mutual basis the agreements that bind us in a  variety of integration structures (including the CSTO)," Lavrov  concluded.

Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, in an interview with  France24 TV channel, stated that the Collective Security Treaty  regarding Armenia was not implemented, and the republic froze its  participation in the CSTO. The CSTO Secretariat stated that it had  not received relevant notifications from Yerevan.

Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov also noted  that Yerevan did not send official notifications about freezing  membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization. "The  Armenian side did not take any official actions in this regard. We  mean to enter into contact with our colleagues and clarify the  meaning of these statements," he said. Peskov also noted that the  Russian President does not yet plan to discuss this issue with the  Prime Minister of Armenia. The Russian Foreign Ministry called  Armenia's accusations against the CSTO about non-fulfillment of  obligations groundless.