YEREVAN, MARCH 29, ARTSAKHPRESS. Russia expects the “detrimental” discussions on Armenia’s partnership with its fellow CSTO members to stop and for issues in this relation to receive a constructive solution, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said in an interview with RTVI.
“We expect the ‘who’s leaving what’ detrimental discussions to stop and that all issues of partnership with Yerevan within the CSTO, including the deployment of a monitoring mission in the territory of Armenia, to be resolved in a constructive and mutually beneficial manner. We are openly discussing all concerns of the Armenian side within the formats of the existing partnership in CSTO, from the Permanent Council meetings up to the Collectively Security Council, the highest body of the organization,” Galuzin said.
Galuzin said that there are “difficulties” within the CSTO, noting that such difficulties exist in every international organization that is carrying out “real work based on the interests of all members.”
He said that the intensive process of implementing the decisions made in 2022 is underway. “Mostly due to Armenia’s chairmanship [in the CSTO] a lot has been done for the development of the CSTO’s capabilities in repelling the challenges and threats to our collective security. I’d like to emphasize that the results we have now wouldn’t be possible without the coordinated, effective and eager work of all member states.”
Galuzin added that the preparations for the forthcoming CSTO foreign ministerial, defense ministerial, and security council meetings are underway.
“The agenda is very broad, which proves the demand for the CSTO in issues of ensuring security and stability in the area of responsibility. This and other issues of strengthening cooperation within the framework of the CSTO were discussed in detail during the 20 March 2023 meeting of the Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov with Armenian foreign minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Moscow, as well as during the recent visit of CSTO Secretary General Imangali Tasmagambetov to Yerevan,” the Russian deputy FM said.
