Armenia’s withdrawal from the Collective Security Treaty Organization is not in line with its national interests. Dmitry Novikov, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Relations, stated this in an interview with socialbites.ca. This is how he interpreted the words of Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, named conditionsAccordingly, Yerevan can leave the CSTO.
“I believe that Armenia’s withdrawal from the CSTO is not in the national interest of Armenia. If the current Armenian authorities follow exactly this order – the need to respect the interests of their country and people – there can be no talk of any withdrawal from the CSTO, ”Novikov said.
According to the parliamentarian, Pashinyan, with his current actions and statements, is trying to sit in the prime minister’s seat while maintaining Armenia’s relations with both Russia and the West.
“Pashinyan is in a difficult domestic political situation, in a difficult international situation. There are several centers of power that are currently affecting the situation in Armenia, the Armenian authorities. On the one hand, there is a position that Armenia should fulfill its allied obligations with the Russian Federation. On the other hand, there is a pressure factor from Western states that threaten Armenia with significant sanctions if friendly relations with Russia are maintained. In this case, Novikov is also trying to create a new form of politics that will allow the tension in the relations between the Armenian side and Baku and Yerevan to be resolved.”
Pashinyan previously said that if Armenia sees the Collective Security Treaty Organization as an “inadequate” structure, it will decide to withdraw. The politician also noted that in this case, Armenia will solve its own security problems.
Prior to that, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Mnatsakan Safaryan declarationthat the country’s security council is considering withdrawing from the CSTO in 2022.