CSTO was created in a different environment and needs to be adapted to current realities - ex-Armenian Foreign Minister
YEREVAN, 11 December. /ARKA/. In the conditions of modern challenges, existing associations and alliances are undergoing changes in order to respond to emerging threats, former Armenian Foreign Minister Ara Ayvazyan said.
‘It should be honestly acknowledged that the Collective Security treaty Organization (CSTO), which was established in a completely different environment, needs to adapt to the current realities. The very principle of collective security cannot promptly and effectively regulate modern challenges, as countries are free to interpret the level of security threats in their own way and make appropriate decisions. Let's be frank, we already have a sad experience, which not only became a signal for external players, but also did not contribute to building trust within the organisation,’ he said at a conference on Armenia and Russia in the conditions of global and regional reformatting: lessons and strategic choice.
Ayvazyan noted that the latest CSTO summit in Astana (Armenia did not partiipate in it) gave hope that there is an awareness of the need to update the organisation's approaches to the current turmoil.
At the same time, he said that the geography of conflicts is constantly expanding and compels the formation of regional coalitions, which will be united by matching interests to overcome common challenges.
‘This is where Armenia can play a key role, which will eventually lead to overcoming common threats and stabilising the situation in the region and beyond,’ the former Armenian foreign minister said.’ he said.
In February 2024, Armenia announced the freezing of its membership in the CSTO and later also refused to pay membership fees to the organisation.
On 18 September, PM Nikol Pashinyan said that the CSTO was not fulfilling its defence commitments to Armenia and was creating threats to its security, existence, sovereignty and statehood. On December 4, 2024 he said Armenia's return to the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) was becoming increasingly difficult, if not impossible. -0-
