The heads of state of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) may reach a decision on Armenia’s membership at the upcoming session of the Collective Security Council on November 11, CSTO Secretary General Taalatbek Masadykov told TASS.
– Speaking about Yerevan’s potential withdrawal from the organization, he said “it could happen if the issue is brought up at the meeting of the Collective Security Council.” “Proposals are usually submitted either by the chairing country or by another country, that is, by the head of state, member of the Collective Security Council. What happens de facto aligns with Article 25 of the Collective Security Treaty Organization’s Charter, which stipulates that if membership dues are not paid and quota-based positions remain unfilled, there is no right to vote,” Masadykov added.
– “It would seem that Armenia is not taking part in the discussions. It would seem that they are not participating. However, an Armenian representative attends the weekly meetings of the Permanent Council, where the permanent representatives of the CSTO member states sit. The Armenian representative listens and, presumably, reports back about what we are discussing and what decisions are being reached, moreover, all issues that we discuss, and potential decisions,” he noted.
– The next session of the Collective Security Council of the CSTO will take place on November 11 in Moscow.
– Earlier, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in parliament that he favored Armenia’s expulsion from the CSTO and would be pleased if that happened. The country does not intend to step up its participation in the CSTO over the next five years, he said, adding that Armenia’s interest in the CSTO had run its course. At the same time, the Armenian prime minister gave a vague answer when asked what Armenia planned to replace its CSTO membership with – strengthening relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan or applying for NATO membership, which the country has not been invited to pursue.
– In September 2024, Pashinyan said that Yerevan had frozen its participation in the CSTO because, he claimed, the organization had created threats to the republic’s sovereignty. In October 2024, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said at an international security forum in Warsaw that Yerevan was assessing all the risks associated with a decision to withdraw from the CSTO. In December of the same year, the Armenian prime minister said that relations between Armenia and the CSTO had passed the point of no return.
https://tass.com/world/2206609