Armenia sees the Russian-led navy bloc Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) as a risk to Armenia’s existence, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan mentioned Wednesday.
“We have frozen our membership of the CSTO not only because the CSTO is not fulfilling its obligations to ensure Armenia’s security, but also because the CSTO is creating threats to Armenia’s security, continued existence and statehood,” Pashinyan informed Armenian news company Armenpress.
Armenia put its membership within the Moscow-dominated CSTO on maintain in February after Azerbaijan gained full management of the Karabakh area final 12 months and amid rising tensions with Moscow.
However, in line with Pashinyan, the rift with the navy alliance has been simmering for 2 years, with Armenia nonetheless ready for solutions to questions on its safety, he mentioned.
The longer the silence continues, the additional Armenia will transfer away from the navy alliance, Pashinyan mentioned, hinting the probability of a everlasting break up was excessive.
Armenia was one of many founding members of the CSTO established in 1992 following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Besides Russia, the CSTO consists of Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
Russia was lengthy thought of Armenia’s protecting energy within the Caucasus area, together with within the battle over Karabakh, however relations have cooled significantly since Pashinyan first took workplace in 2018.
Armenia occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, which contains about 4,500 sq. kilometers inside Azerbaijan, for 3 many years, till Azerbaijan liberated it in a profitable navy operation. It is internationally acknowledged as a part of Azerbaijan.
However, regardless of a Russian peacekeeping pressure stationed within the area, Moscow remained passive within the two most up-to-date armed conflicts between Yerevan and Baku over Karabakh.
Source: www.dailysabah.com